Kealia Grace Smith, a cellist and pianist, is a recent graduate of the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science in Ocean County, New Jersey. She began her musical journey at age six on piano, adding cello two years later. In the fall, Kealia will be attending Boston University's College of Fine Arts to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance as well as a dual degree in English on a Pre-Law track.
A cello student of Thomas Kraines, she is a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the cellist in the Snitzer String Quartet, an Advanced Study Scholarship Chamber Ensemble at Settlement Music School. She was recently a featured soloist with the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra as the winner of their concerto competition and with Play on Philly for the world premiere of a double concerto by composer Kevin Day.
Kealia is a 2025 recipient of the Bruce Montgomery Foundation for the Arts Springboard Grant, the Natale Foundation's Commitment to Excellence Scholarship, the Union League of Philadelphia and Founding Forward Good Citizenship Award, and the Union League Scholarship.
Kealia studies piano with Diane Goldsmith and conducting with Rosalind Erwin; she has also studied conducting with Paul Bryan of Curtis. She has performed in recent master classes with soloists Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Sterling Elliott, Yumi Kendall and Priscilla Lee of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Northwestern University’s Hans Jørgen Jensen, Juilliard’s Natasha Brofsky, and Manhattan School of Music’s Thomas Mesa; she has also worked with the Dover, Balourdet, and Pacifica Quartets. She has attended the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Heifetz International Music Institute, Ascent International Cello Festival, Credo Chamber Music Festival at Oberlin Conservatory, and Music and Mindfulness Camp with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra.
Her love of music extends beyond her instruments, as she has been a part of the choir at her church for the past eleven years and has an extensive background in dance, film, and musical theater.
She has been featured on Fox29’s Good Day Philadelphia, NBC10, CBS3, and NJ101.5 for her arrangement, recording, and video of the Ukrainian National Anthem, which helped to raise money for those impacted by the conflict. She was also highlighted on WRTI's Young Artist Spotlight.
Kealia enjoys volunteering for Project Terrapin and as a Schoolhouse SAT tutor, was Vice President and defense attorney of the MATES Mock Trial competition team in their best season yet, and served as Miss Stafford 2023 with a platform of bringing classical music to her community. Recently, she has been working on arranging and performing jazz covers for voice and pizzicato cello and enjoys performing at weddings and community events.
Kealia Grace is a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist.
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Kealia Grace Smith, a cellist and pianist, is a recent graduate of the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science in Ocean County, New Jersey. She began her musical journey at age six on piano, adding cello two years later. In the fall, Kealia will be attending Boston University's College of Fine Arts to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance as well as a dual degree in English on a Pre-Law track.
A cello student of Thomas Kraines, she is a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the cellist in the Snitzer String Quartet, an Advanced Study Scholarship Chamber Ensemble at Settlement Music School. She was recently a featured soloist with the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra as the winner of their concerto competition and with Play on Philly for the world premiere of a double concerto by composer Kevin Day.
Kealia is a 2025 recipient of the Bruce Montgomery Foundation for the Arts Springboard Grant, the Natale Foundation's Commitment to Excellence Scholarship, the Union League of Philadelphia and Founding Forward Good Citizenship Award, and the Union League Scholarship.
Kealia studies piano with Diane Goldsmith and conducting with Rosalind Erwin; she has also studied conducting with Paul Bryan of Curtis. She has performed in recent master classes with soloists Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Sterling Elliott, Yumi Kendall and Priscilla Lee of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Northwestern University’s Hans Jørgen Jensen, Juilliard’s Natasha Brofsky, and Manhattan School of Music’s Thomas Mesa; she has also worked with the Dover, Balourdet, and Pacifica Quartets. She has attended the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Heifetz International Music Institute, Ascent International Cello Festival, Credo Chamber Music Festival at Oberlin Conservatory, and Music and Mindfulness Camp with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra.
Her love of music extends beyond her instruments, as she has been a part of the choir at her church for the past eleven years and has an extensive background in dance, film, and musical theater.
She has been featured on Fox29’s Good Day Philadelphia, NBC10, CBS3, and NJ101.5 for her arrangement, recording, and video of the Ukrainian National Anthem, which helped to raise money for those impacted by the conflict. She was also highlighted on WRTI's Young Artist Spotlight.
Kealia enjoys volunteering for Project Terrapin and as a Schoolhouse SAT tutor, was Vice President and defense attorney of the MATES Mock Trial competition team in their best season yet, and served as Miss Stafford 2023 with a platform of bringing classical music to her community. Recently, she has been working on arranging and performing jazz covers for voice and pizzicato cello and enjoys performing at weddings and community events.
Kealia Grace is a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist.
Venmo Me!
Help support my musical journey, including private lessons, instrument upgrades, and college tuition. Thank you so much for your consideration.
Contact