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 “Arts Education and Community Engagement” and “The Professional Performing Artist Society,” she was additionally compelled to address systemic inequities in American classical music.
Alexa’s experience at ƽ 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’t 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’s 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’s Brokeback Mountain and the world premiere of Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s Stonewall) and the Opéra en Español 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’s 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’s also served as the DEI director for Hell’s Kitchen (a new musical from Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys).
“The departure from classical music was a big decision, but I’ve found that the theatre world provides a good road map for DEI and cultural transformational work,” she says. “What I’ve really have loved is that my role is equal pats administrative side and on the artistic side. I’m 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.”
And while she’s not currently a performer, Smith tirelessly works to promote new and diverse talent in New York’s classical and theatre communities. She hosts the weekly radio program “Young Artists Showcase” on WQXR, which promotes young classical musicians with interviews and performance spotlights. Throughout her impressive career, Alexa continues to exemplify ƽ’s commitment to merging social justice with the performing arts.
