J.R. Smith
Tenor J.R. Smith is in his second season with the Bach Choir Houston, and was heard last season as a soloist in Bach's cantata Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin. Other solo credits include Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Uns ist ein Kind geboren, Ramirez’ Missa Criolla and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. On stage, J.R. has portrayed the roles of Rapunzel’s Prince in Into The Woods, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, and Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi. Other roles from scenes include Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls, Belmonte in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Orpheus in Orpheus and the Underworld, and Il Contino in La Finta Giardiniera.
J.R. graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification. He is currently is Assistant Choir Director at Labay Middle School in Cy-Fair ISD, where he teaches 6th grade Boys Choir, 7th and 8th grade Sub-Non Varsity Treble Choir, 7th and 8th grade Tenor Bass Choir, and 6th grade General Music. J.R. also teaches private voice to high school students in the Cy-Fair District. He lives in Cypress and will be getting married March 2012 to his fiancé, who teaches Elementary Music in Humble ISD.
