Biography of Musica Bella Orchestra member Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith began learning the violin in the UK at the age of four and won a specialist music scholarship to Wells Cathedral School three years later. She subsequently studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department, where she was Concertmaster of the String Ensemble, winner of the Principal’s Prize, and a finalist in the Lutine Prize competition. Rebecca also won places in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Chamber Orchestra, performing with Sir Colin Davis, Sir Roger Norrington, and Yan Pascal Tortelier.       Rebecca holds an MA in Economics from Cambridge University. While studying there, she was concertmaster of Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra, winner of Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition, and holder of an Instrumental Award for Chamber Music. Following university, she was a founder member and assistant concertmaster of Orchestra of the City, London’s premier amateur orchestra.       Rebecca moved to New York in August 2006 to study for an MBA at Columbia Business School and is specializing in Marketing and Management. As part of her studies, she is undertaking a consulting project for Paul Guenther, Chairman of the New York Philharmonic. She joined Musica Bella in September 2006 and has performed as concertmaster and principal second violin.       She has been a soloist with Musica Bella on our June 24, 2007 chamber-orchestra concert and on December 1 and 2, 2007, in the Bruch Violin Concerto. Musica Bella concerts: October 22, 2006; December 10, 2006; February 18, 2007; April 15, 2007; June 24, 2007; October 14, 2007; December 1, 2007; December 2, 2007 This bio last updated June 8, 2007