Johna Smith
Violin

Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana | Member of the Nashville Symphony since 2019

Johna Smith joined the Nashville Symphony’s Second Violin section in the fall of 2019. She has performed frequently with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, participating in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Tour of Asia in 2017 and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Kennedy Center concert in 2018. Smith’s performance experience includes participating in the Aspen Music Festival, where she was awarded two fellowships as Principal Second, and the National Repertory Orchestra, where she was awarded the Co-Principal Second position. She has also performed with the Gateway, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestras.  

Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Smith was born into a musical family and began violin studies at age 5. She received her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, graduating as the Founder’s Medalist. She continued her graduate studies at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, earning both a Master of Music and Performer Diploma in Orchestral Studies. Her principal teachers include Alexander Kerr, Jorja Fleezanis, Cornelia Heard and Brenda Brenner.