Bio

Short bio

David Patrick Stearns of the Philadelphia Inquirer called Kile’s Vespers “breathtaking” and “ecstatically beautiful,” adding that “few…have Smith’s lyrical immediacy and ability to find great musical variety while maintaining an overall coherent personality.” Kile’s frequently performed music has been praised by audiences and critics for its emotional power, direct appeal, and strong voice. Kile is Curator of the Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music in the Free Library of Philadelphia, co-host of Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection on WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia, and part-time classical host on WRTI.

His latest works include the Vespers for Piffaro, The Renaissance Band and The Crossing, funded by the Philadelphia Music Project, Exsultet for horn and string orchestra, written for Jennifer Montone, Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and three American Spirituals for violin and piano, written for and recorded by David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is now working on a variety of commissions for the 2008-2009 season, including The Bremen Town Musicians for Auricolae. A commercial recording of Vespers is planned for a 2008 release.

Long bio

David Patrick Stearns of the Philadelphia Inquirer called Composer Kile Smith’s Vespers “breathtaking” and “ecstatically beautiful,” adding that “few…have Smith’s lyrical immediacy and ability to find great musical variety while maintaining an overall coherent personality.” Kile’s frequently performed music has been praised by audiences and critics for its emotional power, direct appeal, and strong voice. Kile is Curator of the Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music in the Free Library of Philadelphia, co-host of Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection on WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia, and part-time classical host on WRTI.

His latest works include the Vespers for Piffaro, The Renaissance Band and The Crossing, funded by the Philadelphia Music Project, Exsultet for horn and string orchestra, written for Jennifer Montone, Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and three American Spirituals for violin and piano, written for and recorded by David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is now working on a variety of commissions for the 2008-2009 season, including The Bremen Town Musicians for Auricolae. A commercial recording of Vespers is planned for a 2008 release.

Critics are calling his Vespers “masterful” and “a triumph,” adding that it is “a gem of a score.” The energy, emotion, and immediacy of his music, and the craftsmanship of his orchestration led to his being selected to be Resident Composer for both the Jupiter Symphony in New York City and Musica 2000 in Bucks County, Pa. Performances have included The Voice of One Who Spoke with the Sofia Philharmonic and with Musica 2000, a Pottstown Symphony commission of Alabanza with Latin Fiesta, a 175th-Anniversary commission from Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, for Psalm 46, a major chorus and orchestra work featuring New York City Opera baritone Todd Thomas, and Four French Carols by various orchestras.

Commissions include Vespers, with funding from the Philadelphia Music Project, The Voice of One Who Spoke by Musica 2000, Symphony: Lumen ad revelationem and Three Dances by the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, and Poems of Stephen Berg for soprano, clarinet, and piano by Network for New Music. Also commissioned by the Jupiter Symphony are The Three Graces for oboe, horn, cello, and strings, Variations on a Theme of Schubert for piano and orchestra, and Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins for high voice and orchestra.

Kile’s performances also include A Song of Sonia Sanchez for Latin band, singer, and orchestra by the Delaware, Grand Rapids, Philadelphia Classical, and Jackson (Tenn.) symphonies, Three Dances by many orchestras including the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Sofia Youth and Shumen State Philharmonics of Bulgaria, the Missoula and Kona symphonies, and Poems of Stephen Berg at Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts. His Variations on a Theme of Schubert has been performed numerous times in both its solo piano and piano with orchestra versions.

Other chamber and solo works have received many performances, including his Stationen auf dem Wege zur Freiheit for soprano voice, tenor saxophone, and piano, on texts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The chamber version of A Song of Sonia Sanchez has been performed many times by the ensemble that commissioned it, Latin Fiesta. He has edited the Clara Schumann Concerto for Piano and Orchestra for Hildegard Publishing. His song Penmaen Pool is included on soprano Nancy Ogle’s Capstone CD, An Evening with Gerard Manley Hopkins. Many of his brass and organ works are featured on Westminster Brass recordings and broadcast nationwide. He continues to add to his many liturgical works, and is a popular lecturer on orchestral music. He is also President of the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia Foundation. Among his awards are a grant from the Philadelphia Music Project, a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Composer Fellowship, and grants from Meet The Composer.

Kile’s music has been performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Sofia Philharmonic, the Delaware, Grand Rapids, Jackson (Tenn.), Jupiter, Missoula, Pottstown, and Princeton symphonies among many others, Charles Abramovic, Marshall Taylor, Musica 2000, the Ocean City Pops, and Network for New Music. Kile lives in Philadelphia with his wife, the soprano Jacqueline Smith, and their daughters, is a popular pre-concert lecturer, and plays percussion and sings in the early-music group Quidditas.

Selected Commissions

Auricolae
Thomas Elliott, trombone
Gerard Manley Hopkins Centenary Conference
William Ghezzi, guitar
John Ilika, trombone
The Jupiter Symphony
Latin Fiesta
Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra
Musica 2000
Philadelphia Classical Symphony
Philadelphia Guitar Ensemble
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band
Pottstown Symphony Orchestra
St. Joseph’s University
Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra
Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
The Westminster Brass

Recordings

David Kim, The Lord Is My Shepherd, American Spirituals, Paul Jones Music

Nancy Ellen Ogle, An Evening with Gerard Manley Hopkins, Penmaen Pool, Capstone Records

The Westminster Brass, Praise God in His Sanctuary, Agincourt Hymn, Westminster Brass Publications

The Westminster Brass, Christmas Celebration, Four French Carols, Westminster Brass Publications

The Westminster Brass, Great Hymns of the Faith, Vol. 2, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Westminster Brass Publications

Publishers

Hildegard Publishing Company, Inc.
Edwin F. Kalmus & Co., Inc.
Paul Jones Music
Tau Imprints
Theodore Presser Company
Westminster Brass Publications

Associations

American Composers Forum
American Music Center
ASCAP
Delaware Valley Archivists Group
German Society of Pennsylvania
The Hovhaness Centre, Board of Advisers
Latin Fiesta, Advisory Board
Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, Board
Musical Fund Society Foundation, President
Music Library Association
Quidditas, voice, percussion, recorders
Vereinigung Erzgebirge