The Smith String Quartet is a musical group of four siblings: Harry, 19; Rachel, 15; Ben, 18; and Katie, 23. The Smith family moved to Waco in 1995 and within two years, all four siblings each began to learn a stringed instrument. They discovered later that they had accidentally chosen the exact instruments required for a quartet, and in 2000, the four Smith children began to play together for the first time. Since then, their ensemble playing has taken them to Sweden, Italy, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Orleans. They enjoy playing at their church, at the Salvation Army, and at local weddings.
The Smith family has recently expanded, and in 2005, the Smith welcomed three new siblings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who attend Mountainview and Lake Air schools, and two of whom play the piano.
Harry Smith
Harry is currently a sophomore at Baylor University, which means he thrives on little sleep and continuous adventure. He enjoys the outdoors and other recreational activities, especially basketball, football, and running. The NBA and NFL championship games are highlights of his year. In a close second are the many early Friday mornings he spends serving breakfast to the poor at First Lutheran Church in Waco. Growing up, he was enthusiastic violinist of the Central Texas String Academy for twelve years, a performer in the regional orchestra in high school, and a qualifier for the UIL state competition in Austin. Harry loves and lives to improvise on his violin, especially during worship at Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunday mornings. He is best known in the Smith family for his humorous personality.
Rachel Smith
Rachel is 15 years old. She enjoys every form of art, and is especially fond of designing history fair displays and carwash posters. Rachel loves to travel and to try new things. Her recent new habit has been spending time as a practice lawyer on Waco High's Mock Trial team. Violin and piano are an important part of her life, and as a result she has been a participant in the Central Texas All-Region orchestra competition on the violin since middle school. She listens to all the Christian radio stations, to any violin or piano CD she can get a hold of, and especially well to her talkative family and friends.
Katie Smith
Katie is currently a senior University Scholar at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Her concentrations are viola performance, music history, and classics. She also enjoys every aspect of music and literature, and aspires to teach children music and write about doing so in the future. Her newest professional adventure has been teaching a Music-in-the-Box class for preschoolers at Waco's Central Texas String Academy. For recreation, Katie rides her bike, jogs, and enjoys playing ultimate frisbee. Depending on the day of the week or the occasion, Katie can play the viola, violin, piano, guitar, or sing. Having recently completed an undergraduate thesis on the late string quartets of Mozart, she is preparing to graduate in May.
Ben Smith
Ben is an eighteen-year-old Waco High senior with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. He is a ravenous reader of anything he can get his hands on. He enjoys thinking about the books he reads and has a wild imagination. Having been accepted recently into the University Scholar's program, Ben will attend Baylor in the fall and thinks that he might study theology. Ben is an undaunted chess player, and enjoys all board games, especially Monopoly. He is known well for his exuberant personality, by which he won "Best Witness" in the regional high school Mock Trial competition in early February. He enjoys riding his bike and plays football and basketball with his dad and brothers Harry and Sileshi. He has played the cello since he was four years old.
