[2] Born André Raphel Smith in Durham, North Carolina, he began formal music lessons at age 11.
[3] André Raphel began his career as music director of the Norwalk Youth Symphony (1990).
He was assistant conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (1991–1994), where he worked with Leonard Slatkin.
"[7] In September of 2024, he was named as the principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Hudson Valley Symphony.
[8] Gershwin: Cuban Overture, Ravel: Ma Mere l'Oye, Roy Harris: Third Symphony, Bamberger Symphoniker Music of Barber, Danielpour and Respighi; for Bayerischer Rundfunk, Bamberger Symphoniker "Honoring the Dream" William Grant Still: Symphony No.1, The Philadelphia Orchestra