These concerts are the North Carolina Symphony debut for Herb Smith.

Herb Smith is a regular guest conductor with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He frequently conducts Symphoria, an orchestra based in Syracuse, New York, and currently directs the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra. He also guest conducts for All-State and All-County bands, orchestras, and jazz ensembles across New York State. He recently conducted a brass performance of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man for a concert honoring Harriet Tubman in a bicentennial celebration.

Voted “Best Instrumentalist” of Rochester 2022 by CITY Magazine, Smith currently holds the third trumpet position in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the principal trumpet position in the Gateways Festival Orchestra, which made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2022. He also serves as principal trumpet in the Gateways Brass Collective, a nationally touring brass quintet, and has been a frequent guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic. His Freedom Trio (composed of trumpet played through electronics, bass, and drums) performs around the country. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Smith is also an active composer and a trumpet instructor at the Eastman Community Music School.