Violinist Allison Smith finds her greatest inspiration in collaboration with other musicians and bringing music to audiences with limited access to performing arts. Originally from Washington state, Allison has spent the last seven years fostering musical community in Pennsylvania.

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Based in the Philadelphia area, Allison is an adjunct violin professor at Cairn University and teaches music at Sophia Academy. She also runs the Smith Music Studio and performs with several regional orchestras, including holding the principal second violinist position in the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra.

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Allison received her B.M. in Music Education from Grove City College (’21), where she studied with Rochelle Agnew and was a 2020-2021 winner of their Concerto Competition. Allison then attended Penn State University (PSU) for her M.M. in Violin Performance (’23), where she was a Graduate Teaching Assistant studying with James Lyon, continuing on to complete a Professional Performance Certificate in 2024. Allison has also had coachings with and performed in masterclasses for David Kim, Christopher Wu, David Chan, Jonathan Ong, Milan Vitek, Peter Slowik, Akemi Takayama, Kimberly Kennedy, Chole Trevor, Jennifer Dalmas, Benjamin Beilman, the Fry Street Quartet, the Eybler Quartet, and the Dover Quartet. At PSU, she held leadership positions in the university orchestras, received a Creative Achievement Award, and enjoyed frequent collaborations in chamber music both with fellow students and faculty members.

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Allison’s most recent endeavors include her work with the Kalmia Piano Trio, performing as concertmaster at Carnegie Hall for CCM artist Lauren Daigle, and premiering new musical works at PSU and Wintergreen Music Festival. She has spent summers at festivals in Chicago, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Idaho.

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Besides making music, Allison enjoys baking, running, being outside, and visual art. She is passionate about sharing her love for music with the next generation of musicians and believes that music is a catalyst for transformation both personally and on a larger scale.