Smith_Roger

Roger Montgomery Smith was Principal Trombonist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 1940 until his death in 1975 at the age of 59. He was my teacher at The Juilliard School of Music from 1959 through 1960 and from 1965 through 1968, at which time I became his Co-Principal at the Met.

Roger was an outstanding trombonist, musician, and teacher, and a very intelligent person with a most pleasant personality. He was a professor at The Juilliard School for 28 years and he also taught at Brooklyn College, New York State University at Purchase, New York University and The New England Music Camp in Oakland, Maine.

Earlier in his stellar career, before joining the Met Opera Orchestra, Roger played with the NBC Symphony and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He had been a member of the Goldman Band since 1938 and the Assistant Conductor from 1957-1962. During these years he wrote many arrangements for the band and co-authored the book Landmarks of Early American Music with Richard Franko Goldman.

He studied at Yale, New York University, and at The Ernest Williams School of Music.

Roger Smith was married to Peggy Smithers Smith, who was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. They had three talented children: Paul, Brian and Karen.