William Thomas Smiddy
William Thomas Smiddy at Carnegie Hall in the 1970's, a hall he performed at more than 25 times
William Thomas Smiddy, pianist, was born in Boston and began his musical training at the age of five with the renowned Margaret Chaloff of the New England Conservatory of Music. He made his debut at the age of seven playing Mozart's Concerto in A Major (K. 488) with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Since his debut, he has given more than 2,000 performances on the world's great concert stages. Smiddy also studied with Arthur Mackenzie, Arthur Rubinstein and Vladimir Horowitz. Since his retirement in 1977 he has offered master classes, studies of music appreciation in the New York schools, and is the organist for his church in Queens, N.Y. Mackenzie is under the tutelage of Mr. Smiddy occasionally and took his advice on attending Mannes College of Music. During a recent lesson, Mr. Smiddy gave Mackenzie a program dated April 13, 1980 from a performance at Symphony Hall in Boston that was autographed by Vladimir Horowitz. Mackenzie plans to display it on the living room wall at his home.
William Smiddy teams up wih Arnold Palmer once every two years for a concert to benefit Mr. Palmer's favorite charity.
