Michael Andrew Smith
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2017 | SELF
Music
Press
Saint John’s Michael Andrew Smith has been nominated for two Covenant Awards by the Gospel Music Association Canada:
His album Walk on the Water, has been nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year and You Have Filled Me with a Longing received a nod for Jazz/Blues Song of the Year.
Smith will attend the awards ceremony in Calgary on Oct. 26, at the end of this year’s GMA Canada Week conference.
The songs on Smith’s CD draw from folk, rock and pop styles, with elements of classical, country and jazz.
You Have Filled Me With a Longing is described as a meditative worship song that includes a saxophone solo by Tim Jones and backup vocals by Smith’s wife, Jennifer Smith, and a small group of singers.
In addition to church music, Smith recently composed a song for the 10th anniversary of Marigolds on Main Street that was performed by several area children. Some of his choral works have been performed by the Saint John Rotary Boys Choir, the Rothesay-Kings Rotary Girls Choir, and various school and church ensembles.
Walk on the Water can be purchased in Saint John at Anglican House, Princess Stree; Veronica’s Music, Waterloo Street and the Canadian Bible Society, Germain Street. - TELEGRAPH JOURNAL
Stephen Adams, a Grade 8 student, serenaded him with Sing Me a Song, a lovely composition written by Michael Smith, the school’s French and music teacher. - Telegraph Journal
The looks of pure enjoyment on the faces of these students was an encouraging sight. They really shone when the combined choirs sang a song composed for them by one of their teachers, Michael Smith. Sing Me a Song will be forever District 8's song. - the Times Globe
Their version of In Flanders Fields, in an arrangement by Michael Smith and Kevin Langford, was touching and effective. - the Times Globe
Discography
Walk on the Water – debut Christian Contemporary/Inspirational CD, released December 2006. Nominated for the 2007 Covenant Awards for "Jazz Blues Song of the Year" and "Inspirational Album of the Year."
The Rose That Bare Jesu (SATB w. flute) – recorded in 2002 by the Senior Choir of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rothesay, NB, (directed by Maureen Beckwith,(on a CD entitled Sounds Like Christmas
In Flanders Fields (unison, opt. 2-part) – co-written by Kevin Langford, recorded in 2000 by the Choir of Rothesay High School, Rothesay, NB, (directed by Robert Selby,) on a CD entitled, Compilation 2000
Spirit of God (Unison w. violin or flute obligato) - recorded in 1994 by Diocesan Choir School (Diocese of Fredericton), (directed by Robert Summerby-Murray), on a CD entitled Rejoicing in God.
Publications --
Sing Me a Song (accompanied 2-part choral) - published by Colla Voce Music, 2014
In Flanders Fields (accompanied unison or 2-part choral) – co-written by Kevin Langford, published by Colla Voce Music, 2003
Creation’s Praise (accompanied SATB choir w. trumpet) - published by Canadian International Music, 1998
Arranging & Music Editing for Alleluia Songs, a supplementary hymn book for Church of St. James the Less, Rothesay, NB, 1987
Photos
Bio
Michaels vision is to help people understand the things of God. His hope is that through his music people would be drawn into fellowship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whether it be through the songs he writes and sings, the words he speaks, or the classical music that he performs.
Michaels creative output includes Christian worship songs, congregational hymns, choral pieces, songs for solo performance, songs for school children, piano accompaniments, and some instrumental music and arrangements. In addition, Michael is a classcially trained tenor who is equally at home in operatic and oratorio arias and art song.
Born and raised in and around Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, the second son of a pastor, Michael not only heard the Word of God spoken and taught, but saw it lived out by both of his parents. He decided to live for Christ at an early age.
While Michael has long had an interest in song writing and musical composition, stemming from childhood, he began writing in earnest in 1991 after attending a conference about evangelism in Brighton, England. It seemed that after that conference it was impossible NOT to write worship songs, which he had the opportunity to test out on the congregation of St. James the Less Church (Rothesay, New Brunswick). This experience enabled him to discover what worked and did not work in song writing. After a few years Michael began to concentrate additionally on choral writing, both for his students in the school system, and for youth and church choirs. Michael recently composed a song, "Marigolds on Main Street", for the marigold planting event of the same name. It was sung by Saint John school children on June 6, 2007 at a ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of the project.
Michael studied both piano and cello as a child. He began singing in his church choir, directed by his mother, at age 7 and did so for many years. He was a member of the Saint John Rotary Boys Choir under Joyce Lumb and then Spencer Belyea between the ages of 8-12. Michael began voice training under Kevin Langford as a teenager and then proceeded to Queens University (Kingston, Ontario) where he earned a B.Mus. in vocal performance. He did some further study in performance and music education at McGill University (Montreal, Quebec) before going on to earn a B.Ed. (Junior/Intermediate, Music/Vocal) at the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario). He currently studies with Mabel Doak of Fredericton.
Michael teaches music in the public school system. He also participates in the community as a vocal soloist in classical recitals, concerts and choral performances. He has also directed church choirs and given lessons in voice and piano. All of these previous and ongoing experiences have created opportunities for him to write music for himself, his students and choir members to perform, and for Christian worshippers to sing as they fellowship together.
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