Performer, curator and on-stage host, James Austin Smith “proves an oboist can have an adventurous solo career.” - The New Yorker
Performer
A chamber musician renowned for his “virtuosic” “dazzling” and “brilliant” performances (The New York Times), Smith performs regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, at festivals around the US and abroad, as soloist and recitalist.
Curator
Artistic Director of Tertulia Chamber Music, Smith crafts annual festivals of music, dining and visual arts in Reykjavik (2023), Berlin (2024) and Istanbul (2025), alongside a regular series of arts experiences in New York and San Francisco.
He serves as Artistic Advisor to Coast Live Music, presenting world-class performances in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains above Silicon Valley.
On-Stage Host
A musician with a passion for communication, Smith specializes in deepening the listening experience through engaging commentary and attempted humor.
“For an oboist, James Austin Smith can deliver a punchline.” (The New York Times)
