Barry T. Smith

Music

Barry playing mandolin and singing on stage with a fiddle player and guitar player.
Barry playing bluegrass mandolin at the Mercury Ballroom in Louisville, KY.

Making music is my favorite thing, and in my most honest moments I feel it's my calling. I've had many beautiful opportunities to make music in my life, and I have made most of my dearest friends along that journey. I am a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer in many genres. The purpose of this page (like this entire site) is mostly for my personal reflection and celebration. Below are some examples of my work.

Bluegrass & Folk

Over the course of my life, I've spent the most time exploring and immersing in folk, gospel, and bluegrass music. I've gotten the opportunity to play big stages and play with fantastic players such as Michael Cleveland. I've competed in the Kentucky State Mandolin Championship and I've studied with amazing teachers such as Jake Workman, Thomas Cassell, and Jacob Jolliff. But mostly I've enjoyed the pleasure of jamming with friends and making music that resonates with my heart.

Classical & Choral

Barry (back row, center) conducted by Eric Whitacre, performing with the Louisville Chamber Choir, 2024.

My greatest successes in music (and perhaps in life) are with choral music. I am a founding member of the Louisville Chamber Choir as well as the Minneapolis-based Mirandola Ensemble. I've traveled the world competing in choral competitions with the University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, taking home many awards while being ranked the #2 choir in the world by the INTERKULTUR organization.

Veljo Tormis (center), Barry in back over Tormis's left shoulder. Group of men smiling, all having moustache-less beards to match Tormis's signature beard.
Veljo Tormis (center, white beard) with Barry just over Tormis's left shoulder. The men of the UofL Cardinal Singers shaved our beards to match his signature mustache-less beard, 2007.

I have performed in masterclass with Eric Whitacre and Veljo Tormis. I have performed world premieres of pieces by René Clausen, Vytautas Miškinis, and Ēriks Ešenvalds. My own compositions have been premiered at high schools and universities. Most importantly, some of my most cherished memories and friends were made along the path paved by choral music. There simply is nothing more magical and spiritual than singing music at the highest level with your fellow travelers.

In addition to choral music, I also just love classical music and enjoy playing and listening to it.

Wind & Pine

Barry playing guitar with Emily Smith as both sing in the act Wind & Pine.
Wind & Pine performing for a charity event in 2015.

My greatest friend and musical collaborator is my wife, Emily Joan Smith. More rarely than we'd like, we play together as the indie-folk duo Wind & Pine. We play music we love—mostly beloved covers with the occasional original mixed in. We blend indie, folk, old-time, bluegrass, Irish, and even pop music with two-part harmonies and a variety of instrumentation. Though we're both university-trained musicians, I think our music sounds even better because of the love we share for each other and the magic of music-making. Check us out on Instagram for more.

Everything Else

Barry playing a telecaster electric guitar, wearing a large white cowboy hat. Drummer in the background relaxing.
Barry playing his Fender Telecaster with his country group, 2024.

In addition to the projects mentioned above, I have had many varied musical experiences and opportunities. As a backup singer, I have performed with the Eagles, Ben Folds, and Pat Boone among others. Currently, I pick a telecaster in a country cover band with my friends, simply for the joy of country music.

Group of people wearing all black, Ben Folds standing in the center with white shirt. Barry (with short-cropped beard) stands third from right.
Barry (3rd from right) with Ben Folds (white shirt) after a performance with the Louisville Orchestra in 2017.

I also play ambient electric guitar with the kirtan band Anahata Bhakti, led by my wife, Emily. Kirtan is an event in which participants practice Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, through music and chanting. Anahata Bhakti hosts kirtans monthly at the Inner Warrior yoga studio, and we are regular guests at yoga festivals such as MyPath, the Kentucky Yoga Festival, and the Festival of Faiths in Kentucky.

Group of people posing and smiling, holding instruments. Barry stands in the back holding his electric guitar.
Anahata Bhakti at the MyPath yoga festival, 2023.

Finally, I have also been a singer-songwriter, and it's something I've always felt a call to return to. Here are some examples of songs I wrote and demoed back in 2011.

Explore more of my music and compositions on SoundCloud.