About Chris Smith:

Chris Smith is Assistant Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology and director of the Vernacular Music Center at the Texas Tech School of Music. He holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and the Indiana University School of Music. His research interests are in 20^th century, American, and vernacular musics, as well as improvisation, performance practice, and historical performance. He has published on topics in jazz, classical, and traditional musics across the country, in Europe, and in Ireland, and for six years hosted the syndicated radio program One World. He tours internationally with Altramar medieval music ensemble, leads the Irish traditional band Last Night's Fun, and has lectured or performed at hundreds of colloquia, concerts, workshops, and pub sessions around the world. He is also a published poet.