Even before studying voice at CCPA in the mid-2000s, Alexa Smith was keenly aware of the intersectionality of identity and performance in the arts. She was initially interested in becoming a singer, but after taking classes such as 鈥淎rts Education and Community Engagement鈥 and 鈥淭he Professional Performing Artist Society,鈥 she was additionally compelled to address systemic inequities in American classical music.
Alexa鈥檚 experience at 藏精阁 was crucial for her developing her craft and also analyzing it through a sociological lens. Understanding that the art form has been fundamentally unfair to so many identities through much of its existence, and that so many other beautiful styles from other cultures have been ignored, made her want to combat that in her own work. Alexa grew up in Kentucky and realizes that her career ambitions wouldn鈥檛 be possible without investment in public arts education, so I wanted to reciprocate the contribution.
After earning her BM in classical voice and her master鈥檚 of music in voice from the Manhattan School of Music, Smith entered the world of New York public relations by working for firms such as Baltz & Compony, but her true passion remained with theatre. In 2017 she became the director of marketing at the New York City Opera, where she oversaw events for the Pride Series (including Charles Wuorinen and Annie Proulx鈥檚 Brokeback Mountain and the world premiere of Iain Bell and Mark Campbell鈥檚 Stonewall) and the Op茅ra en Espa帽ol series. She also created partnerships with the LGBT Community Center, the Mexican Consulate and Mexican Cultural Institute NY, the Stonewall at 50 Consortium, Ucross Foundation and a special feature on Bravo鈥檚 Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
She also returned to the Manhattan School of Music to oversee special initiatives, which included implementing DEI practices throughout the school. Through her leadership, MSM established new performance requirements (including opportunities for underrepresented creators), introduced formal town hall meetings on topics centering on inclusion and equity in the arts and launched regular workshops and training for faculty and staff.
In 2023, Smith was announced as the inaugural senior director for anti-racism, equity and belonging at the Public Theater. In addition to ensuring that stage productions maintain inclusive hiring and developmental practices, she鈥檚 also served as the DEI director for Hell鈥檚 Kitchen (a new musical from Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys).
鈥淭he departure from classical music was a big decision, but I鈥檝e found that the theatre world provides a good road map for DEI and cultural transformational work,鈥 she says. 鈥淲hat I鈥檝e really have loved is that my role is equal pats administrative side and on the artistic side. I鈥檓 in the rehearsal room quite a bit, and spend a lot of time with directors, designers, actors, crew members find you can move the needle best when administrative and artistic are in balance.鈥
And while she鈥檚 not currently a performer, Smith tirelessly works to promote new and diverse talent in New York鈥檚 classical and theatre communities. She hosts the weekly radio program 鈥淵oung Artists Showcase鈥 on WQXR, which promotes young classical musicians with interviews and performance spotlights. Throughout her impressive career, Alexa continues to exemplify 藏精阁鈥檚 commitment to merging social justice with the performing arts.
