Abigail Smith started learning the violin at the age of 9, firstly with the Suzuki Method and after with a more traditional method.
She attended South Notts Music School from the age of 9 to 19, providing a firm and invaluable foundation in Ensemble Playing and making several life long friendships. Abigail also led the Nottingham Youth Orchestra from 1988-1989, giving her a lifetime appreciation of orchestral playing. In 1989, she went on to study violin at Birmingham Conservatoire and achieved a BA (Hons) ABSM Teaching Diploma and Post Graduate Certificate in Performance.
Abigail went on to a freelance career of teaching and performing in Birmingham, teaching for Birmingham Music Service, Bablake School in Coventry, and The Royal Wolverhampton School. She has played with many professional orchestras including City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Orchestra of the Swan. In more recent years, Abigail moved to Nottingham and established The Abigail Smith String Academy, specialising in String Pedagogy. She was also String Animateur for Music For Everyone from 2018 – 2019.
Currently, Abigail is teacher of Upper Strings at Jesse Gray Primary School, and directs the school orchestra and string ensemble, exploring a fun repertoire and improvisation. Abigail is passionate about nurturing talent from an early age, and loves to create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment in her ensemble coaching. She is very excited about her new start at Wirksworth Music Centre as Junior Strings Director.