Vijay Singh is an active performer, composer, teacher, conductor, and clinician residing in Ellensburg, Washington where he is Professor of Music at Central Washington University.  A graduate of Willamette University (B.M. Ed/Clarinet & Voice) and Portland State University (Master in Choral Conducting/Vocal Performance), he has been rapidly
gaining international attention for his eclectic musical compositions, performances, workshops, and conducting appearances.

Vijay’s teaching experiences have included work at public secondary schools, community college, and university levels.  He currently teaches voice, choral arranging, jazz pedagogy, directs the University Chorale, and award-winning CWU Vocal Jazz 1, and oversees the vocal jazz program (3 jazz choirs).  Vijay’s student ensembles at CWU have been honored as some of the finest in the nation with invitations to perform at prestigious national IAJE, MENC, and ACDA conventions.  Vocal Jazz 1 had been selected and performed at the national ACDA conference in Chicago, IL March 11, 2011.  As a composer, Vijay writes for all levels in both the classical choral and jazz idioms.  His compositions (over 170 currently in print) are widely available from a number of publishers and he often writes on commission for some of North America’s finest ensembles.  Vijay’s “MASS with Orchestra” will receive it’s world premiere at Lincoln Center in New York City May 30, 2011.

An active performer, Vijay has appeared as featured bass-baritone soloist with such notable groups as Male Ensemble Northwest, Choral Cross Ties, the Oregon Symphony, the Robert Shaw Chorale, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Clark Terry, the Disciples of Groove, and as a member of the award-winning a cappella jazz quartet Just 4 Kicks.  He has appeared in professional opera and musical theatre productions, and maintains an active career in oratorio, recital, and contemporary music.

Vijay served 4 years as National Repertoire and Standards Chair for Jazz Choirs in the American Choral Director’s Association and is in demand as a guest conductor of All-State and Honors choirs.  He has conducted All-State choirs in over nineteen states and has the distinction of conducting both All-State Concert Choirs and Jazz Choirs within the same year.  Vijay has served as adjudicator/jurist at international festivals in Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States.  The recent recipient of a tenth ASCAP Composer’s Award, Vijay is also a member of ACDA, MENC, ASCAP, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Henry Charles Smith won the grammy with the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble for “Album of the Year, Classical” in 1969.  While associate and resident conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, he conducted over 1,000 concerts.  As principal trombonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, he played over 2,000 concerts with Eugene Ormandy and many other of the 20th century’s greatest conductors.  As trombone and euphonium soloist, as chamber music player, and as writer and editor, his recordings and editions are internationally known.  His guest conducting includes the Detroit, Dallas, Kansas City and National Symphony Orchestras, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Indianapolis, San Antonio, Delaware, Oregon, North Carolina and Phoenix Symphonies.  He has conducted the Calgary Philharmonic and Edmonton Symphony in Canada.

Mr. Smith has served on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University, Temple University and the University of Texas at Austin.  From 1989 until 1993, he was
Director of Orchestral Activities at Arizona State University (ASU).  He is now professor emeritus at ASU.  He was music director of the South Dakota Symphony for 12 years and is now conductor emeritus.  Smith was conductor of the Mendelssohn Club Choir of Philadelphia and the Bach Society Chorus of Minnesota for six years each.

Henry Charles Smith is a frequent conductor of All-State and other educational festivals.  He conducted the Young Artis Orchestra at Tanglewood for two summers and was music director of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen for 16 years.  He recently served for 2 years as interim music director and artistic advisor of the Cedar Rapids Symphony in Iowa.

Henry Smith was born in Philadelphia and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Curtis Institute of Music.  In May 2007, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music by Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD.