Larry Alan Smith Named Curator of Hartt's Garmany Chamber Music Series

The Hartt School at the University of Hartford is pleased to announce that Larry Alan Smith, a longtime faculty member and former dean, has been named as curator of the school's popular and nationally acclaimed Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series.

The four-concert series, which has brought to Hartford more than two dozen of the most admired and innovative musical artists and ensembles in the world, began in 2009 and will be returning for its eighth season this fall.

Steve Metcalf, a former assistant dean at Hartt who founded the series and has been its curator since its inception, is retiring from the position after seven seasons.

"Being asked to assume responsibility for the Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series is an honor, and I will do everything I can to maintain the high standards that Steve Metcalf established during his tenure," said Smith, who, in addition to being a member of the Hartt composition faculty, is an internationally acclaimed composer, conductor, and pianist. He served as the dean of the school from 1990-97.

Smith said he will announce the 2016-17 series lineup soon. The series is supported by the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

"I feel lucky to be able to hand off the series to someone as experienced and imaginative as Larry," said Metcalf. "Presiding over this series has been one of the great privileges of my professional life. It's been gratifying to bring to our school and community some of the most celebrated musical artists of our time, and to have them perform to cheering, capacity crowds. And of course, none of it would have been possible without the unwavering support of the folks at the Garmany Fund."

For the upcoming season, the fund has provided a grant of $55,000, matching its largest since the series began in 2009.

"We will be forever grateful to our friend Steve Metcalf for his leadership and foresight in helping to create the Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music series and for bringing world-class and innovative programming to our Hartford audiences," said David Polk, advisor for the Garmany Fund. "We are confident and excited that Larry is up to the task and will continue with creative and energetic leadership while building on the growth of this great new tradition."