Larry Smith

Larry Smith is Professor of Organ and chair of the organ department at Indiana University Bloomington. He is a concert organist of national recognition, having performed solo recitals for three national American Guild of Organists conventions (1982, 1984, and 1986). He also served as one of the judges for the National Organ Playing Competition held during the National AGO convention (in Houston, TX) in 1988.

Before his appointment as Visiting Professor of Music to Indiana University in 1981, Dr. Smith served on the faculties of Kent State University (Kent, OH) and Converse College (Spartanburg, SC). Prior to his academic career, he was full-time Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church in Des Moines, IA. In 1982, he was appointed chair of the organ department at Indiana University, a position he held until the Fall of 1992, and resumed in the Fall of 2003.

Dr. Smith began his study of the organ in Guttenberg, IA, with John G. Lammers. He received his Bachelors degree in 1965 from Drake University (Des Moines, IA) where he studied with Russell Saunders. He completed his Masters degree at Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY) where he studied with Arthur Poister. He subsequently was graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, studying with David Craighead. He also earned that school's prized Performer's Certificate in Organ.

His recording of Troisieme Symphonie by Louis Vierne is available on the VOR label. He can also be heard on a CD of German organ music produced by organbuilder Martin Ott. It was recorded on the 37-stop 51-rank Martin Ott organ in St. Brigid Parish in San Diego, CA in 1993.

Larry is married to Caroline Bradley Smith, Associate Professor of Voice at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. They have one daughter, Johna.