Composer Wes R.Smith
Wes R. Smith is a composer and arranger with a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The influence of these institutions, along with the music of Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Leonard Bernstein, the Police, the Pixies, Frank Zappa, Stephen Sondheim, and Jerry Goldsmith has resulted in music that moves between jazz, rock, funk, art music and modern theatrical music.
Wes has been commissioned to create piano arrangements for an online music company along with writing choral arrangements and compositions for choirs under his direction. He has written long form compositional suites such as Brand New Universe along with compositions and arrangements for jazz ensembles, combos, guitar trios, string quartets, studio orchestras, short films, and stage productions.
As a theatrical composer, Wes has collaborated with novelist R. Michael Burns, on the musicals Big Easy Blues and Lights over Libertyville. He is currently submitting a full-cast, fully orchestrated demo of Big Easy Blues to theaters and producing organizations. He has completed the book, music, and lyrics to several additional musicals in various stages of development, including successful workshops.
Wes has provided music direction, sound design, and revised orchestrations for theater productions in Florida, Indiana, and Massachusetts. He transcribed, orchestrated, and composed underscoring for the musicals Hills on Fire (co-produced by Tilted Windmills Productions and University of Florida) and The Civility of Albert Cashier (New York City reading produced by Head over Heels producer Christine Russell) both co-composed by Keaton Wooten and Joe Stevens. He is currently at work orchestrating the film musicals Connections (produced by Second City) and Timepiece (workshopped through University of California Davis) co-composed by Keaton Wooden and Grayson Coleman-Selby.
“In our first residency, Wes was a stupendous resource - both creatively and professionally. He helped take our work and find new places for it to flourish in ways that our existing sounds could truly hit the audience. And he did it in record time. Cannot wait to work with him again! ”
“I love to throw Wes curve balls when I write lyrics. At various times I’ve asked for sultry jazz, dixieland, some up-tempo ‘50s rock-n-roll, a Sinatra-esque love ballad, and a John Philip Sousa-style march. And wouldn’t you know, he knocks it out of the park every time.”
“Wes Smith is a composer who really puts his heart and soul into the music and the project”