After studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1968 to 1971, where he was the winner of the Sidney Langston Prize for Brass playing and was awarded a Licensiate diploma (LRAM), Smith joined the English National Opera (ENO) orchestra in 1974.
[1] In addition to his UK activities, Smith has been President of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) since 2004, a position that he was re-elected to in May 2021.
This role involves representing musicians’ interests in discussions with organisations such as UNESCO, WIPO and the European Parliament and Commission.
Smith has held directorships of the British Copyright Council, UK Music, the Educational Recording Agency.
Smith was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to music.