Coleman Smith

5-String Fiddle / Violin /  Educator

Coleman’s love affair with music began very early on. His mother Karen, a professional ballerina says Coleman has been responding to music since before he was born. Fostering his love of music, his parents bought him his first violin at the tender age of 3 at which time he began studying the Suzuki Violin Method. During his formidable years in the Suzuki Program, Coleman became one of the youngest people ever accepted to the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, eventually having solo performances with the Dallas Fort Worth Pops Orchestra. Coleman was awarded a full Presidential scholarship to the music department at Marywood University where he studied music performance and minored in music pedagogy graduating Cum Laude. While at University Coleman conducted four years with the Marywood University String Project studying under Master Teachers, Mary Catherine Gallagher and Amy Christian. Coleman has a unique style that fuses Gypsy Swing, Jazz, Celtic, Bluegrass and Texas Fiddle, all from a classical perspective. Currently, Coleman travels the world, including an annual tour throughout Europe where he both performs and teaches workshops for Europe’s largest bluegrass festival, La Roche Bluegrass Festival. Coleman has had guest appearances with a wide variety of popular bands including but not limited to Leftover Salmon, Roy Williams & The Human Hands, Billy Cardine, Jeff Austin Band, and Pheobe Hunt & The Gatherers. Together with Rapidgrass Coleman has also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with David Grisman, Jeff Austin, Peter Rowan, Pete Wernick, Alex Hargreaves, Luke Bulla, Dierks Bentley, and Billy Strings. Coleman also the Founder and Music Director of Coletrain Music Academy in Buena Vista, Colorado. Learn more at colemansmithmusic.com