Gregory Smith was born in Newcastle in 1979. He learnt piano from his mother, Naomi Smith, until commencing undergraduate studies at the University of Newcastle in 1997. There he studied piano with Carmel Lutton and composition with Colin Spiers and Nigel Butterley. During that time he was awarded the Undergraduate Scholarship for Outstanding Entrants, the Friends of the Conservatorium Prize, the Newton-John Memorial Music Prize, and the Frank Duncan Memorial Scholarship. He completed his Bachelor of Music with Honours (Class I) and a University Medal in 2000.

Awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award in 2001, Gregory subsequently undertook a Master of Creative Arts, studying performance practice issues in Russian piano music. During these studies he developed a strong passion for the music of Nicholas Medtner. In November 2003 he presented a paper on the influence of foreign culture on this composer at the combined conference of the Australia and New Zealand musicological societies in Wellington. In 2004 he will commence PhD research studying the music of Medtner. Naturally, this style of music has had a significant influence on Gregory's compositional style, particularly recent works such as The Tale for bassoon and piano, and The Unred Rose.

Gregory enjoys an active schedule of performing both as a soloist and accompanist. He has performed as a soloist in Malaysia as part of the University of Newcastle's overseas graduation ceremonies, and in Japan as part of the Newcastle-Ube Sister City 20th Anniversary celebrations. In July 2001 he was a participant in the piano section of the London Masterclasses, run by Norma Fisher.

Since 2000 Gregory has been a lecturer in academic studies at The Conservatorium, University of Newcastle

Credit: amcoz.com.au