She was born in
Denton, Texas. She graduated from
University of North Texas College of Music (1930) and then continued with graduate studies in piano and composition at the
Juilliard School with Reuben Goldmark and
Frederick Jacobi from 1932 to 1939, earning a diploma. She simultaneously studied at
New York University earning a master's degree in 1933 and a PhD in 1952. From 1932 to 1939, she served as pianist for the
Orchestrette Classique of New York, a women's orchestra. During this time, she also gave concerts of mostly American music in Latin America, Europe, and throughout the United States. As a performer, she became particularly associated with the works of
Aaron Copland. From 1941 to 1946, she taught at the
Hartt School, where she founded the department of music education. She collaborated with composer
Cecile Vashaw on
The Work and Play String Method, an instructional series for violin, viola, cello, and bass. She joined
ASCAP in 1945. As a composer, Smith is best known for her operas and orchestral works, which have all been performed. Her music incorporates elements of jazz, folk music and 20th-century French harmony. Her compositional style has an appealing directness and although tonal, makes interesting use of
dissonance. Among her works are a string quartet (1964) which uses irregular metres and driving rhythms, and the operas
Cynthia Parker and
Cockcrow, which employ folk music within a generally conservative tonal idiom.
Cynthia Parker was Smith's first opera. She had long been determined to write an opera on a Texas story, and that of
Cynthia Parker was a gripping one. Kidnapped by Native Americans, Parker was raised by Comanche, eventually marrying a chief and raising three children of her own. She was found by Texas Rangers and returned to white society, but was unhappy there and eventually committed suicide. Smith plays up the differences between Native and settler cultures by using stereotypical "Indian" tropes for the Comanche and familiar and popular folk music for the white colonists of the American West. Smith was the recipient of several commissions and awards and was active in several music organizations, especially the
National Federation of Music Clubs, for which she chaired the Decade of Women Committee (1970–79). As a writer her publications include
Aaron Copland: his Work and Contribution to American Music (New York, 1955) and a
Directory of American Women Composers (Chicago, 1970), of which she was the editor. She died in
New York City. Many of her manuscripts, including those of her operas, are held by the Music Library at the University of North Texas in Denton. ==Selected compositions==