Biography
Jay Smith, Guitar
Jay Smith has extensive experience as a private lesson instructor and director of various ensembles. Smith began teaching professionally during his senior year in high school and has continued full time for the past 17 years. In addition to teaching independently and at Music Starz Studios, Smith has also taught at the university level. He spent 5 years teaching at the University of North Texas in Denton, where he gave private lessons and directed the UNT Classical Guitar Ensemble. Smith also served on the faculty of the Community Music Program while at UNT.
Smith earned his Bachelor of Music degree with a double major in guitar performance and music education from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He completed his Master of Music degree at UNT, focusing on guitar performance and musicology. In 2006, Smith became Dr. Jay when he graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree at UNT. His area of study was again guitar performance and musicology. Smith’s doctoral dissertation consisted of an analysis and performance guide for Mexican composer Manuel Ponce’s Guitar Sonata III.
In addition to teaching, Smith has stayed active as a performer by playing in numerous solo and ensemble settings. Smith grew up playing in many local rock and pop bands, while studying jazz and classical music privately. In addition to performing with Serenata Strings, I Virtuosi and giving numerous solo classical guitar recitals, Smith has performed with The Tulsa Opera, playing the guitar solo on their production of the Barber of Seville. He has performed for Christopher Parkening, Stephen Robinson, Stanley Yates and Javier Calderon. In a jazz setting, Smith has performed on bass and guitar with such artists as Frank Mantooth and Neil Harmon. Throughout his career, Smith has always strived to be versatile in his approach to teaching as well as performing. As a result, he has a varied background that has enabled him to teach and perform a wide variety of musical styles.
Karen Lim-Smith, Violin/Piano
Karen Lim-Smith started playing the piano by ear at 2. Five years later, she went on to win her first piano competition. At 8, she had also picked up the violin. At 12, she was the youngest member to tour with the Penang Symphony Orchestra to Adelaide and Melbourne for the Adelaide Music Festival. That same year, she was the youngest musician selected to represent her country Malaysia with the ASEAN Symphony Orchestra in Thailand.
At age 14, she went on to win her first major violin competition. Not only did she win the coveted first prize at the Mozart National String Competition, but also a free round-trip to Amsterdam to study with Theo Olof, the former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
At 17 years of age, she won her first full scholarship abroad to study with Alice Waten at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. After graduating with a Diploma in Music with Distinction, she followed Waten to Australia, where she won another full scholarship to undertake her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at the Canberra School of Music, which is affiliated with the Australian National University. Three years later, she moved to Sydney to complete her Bachelor of Music degree with Honors at the Australian Institute of Music.
While a student at the Canberra School of music, she was selected as the only Malaysian delegate to participate with the World Youth Orchestra. The orchestra toured the Philippines, South Korea, and Malaysia as well as Denmark and Germany.
She graduated in 2003 with double Masters – a Master of Journalism degree and a Master of Music degree in performance – from the University of North Texas (UNT). Over the years, she has studied with Amadeus Heutling (member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra), Emanuel Borok (former concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra) and Susan Demetris (former concertmaster of the Dallas Opera). She strives for versatility in her playing as well as in her students’ playing. While a student at UNT, she picked up jazz violin, and was a founding member of UNT’s Swing Strings. She has also appeared with UNT’s Repertory Jazz Ensemble in a series of performances commemorating the indefatigable Duke Ellington.Lim-Smith continued her Jazz studies with Scott Tixier, who is teaching alternate/Pop/Jazz violin at the University of North Texas.
In 2017, Lim-Smith was featured in VoyageDallas Magazine – DFW’s premiere magazine highlighting careers of leading entrepreneurs in the DFW area – as a pioneer in the music industry.
Serenata Strings is the recipient of the WeddingWire Five-Star Couples’ Choice Awards 2014, 2018, 2020 & 2021. With this award, Serenata Strings is placed in the TOP FIVE PERCENT
of the wedding community (nationwide) for demonstrating EXCELLENCE in QUALITY, SERVICE, RESPONSIVENESS and PROFESSIONALISM within the wedding industry.
Serenata Strings is the recipient of:
TMT 2017 Entertainment Award for Best Classical Music Entertainment Company – Southern USA.
Best of Flower Mound Awards Program to Music Starz Studios DBA Serenata Strings the 2018 Best of Flower Mound – Musicians Category.
In 2012, Lim-Smith was named Teacher of the Year by the Denton Music Teachers Association.
Lim-Smith is also a string clinician serving orchestra students in the DFW area.
In January 2018, Lim-Smith was invited as guest lecturer at the University of North Texas to speak to the students majoring in music entrepreneurship.
In July 2020, she was inducted into the Hall Of Fame – the highest honor – by the The National Guild Of Piano Teachers/ American College Of Musicians.
Lim-Smith is a very active performer and teacher. Lim-Smith has toured with Andrea Bocelli and Diana Ross and the Supremes throughout the United States. She appeared frequently with The Dallas Opera Orchestra and The Tulsa Opera Orchestra during the operatic seasons. She also performed on baroque instruments with the Fort Worth Early Music and the Orchestra of New Spain.
On July 28, 2022, she performed with her husband Jay for the PNC-Patio Sessions at Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center (ATTPAC). They performed Nov. 19, 2022 for ATTPAC Gala Event.
Lim-Smith has also performed as a soloist at the 2008 National Association of Composers USA (NACUSA) National Concert at the Eisemann Center in Dallas / Richardson, TX.
In February 2009, she presented the world premiere performance of “Wayang” for solo violin, composed by Wieslaw V. Rentowski at the NACUSA Texas Conference at the Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
In February 2010, she presented the world premiere performance of “Appassionato” for violin and piano composed by Rentowski at the NACUSA Texas Conference at the University of San Marcos, Texas.
In 2012, she presented works by Rentowski and Stephen Ip at the NACUSA – Texas Chapter concert at the Richardson Public Library.
On October 3, 2013, she presented Rentowski’s “Wayang” at the Louisiana Tech University.
On October 27, 2013, she presented the world premiere performance of “Colla Parte” for solo violin and chamber orchestra with the DeSoto Chamber Orchestra.
On Sept. 14, 2014, she presented the following works for the NACUSA – Texas Chapter concert at the Richardson Public Library:
Rentowski’s “Solaire” for solo violin
Ross Griffey’s “Dancing Shadows” for solo violin
Deon Nielson Price’s “Stile Antico” for solo violin
Bryce Cannell’s “Refractions” for string quartet
Michael Lee’s “Farewell” for string quartet
Crimson Rose’s “Bouquet” for string quartet
Deon Nielson Price’s “Allegra Barbara” for string quartet
On Sept. 27, 2022, she presented with world-renowed soprano Dominika Zamara and Dr. Cameron Hofmann, piano professor at Baylor University the world premiere performance of Rentowski’s “Triptych” at the Dallas Latino Cultural Center sponsored by City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture.
In 2021, her performance of “Wayang” was featured on Wieslaw Rentowski: Solo & Chamber Music, released by Navona Records in August 2021.
She has been teaching professionally for the past 28 years. She has served in the violin faculty at the Canberra Youth Orchestra Society in Australia and the Community Music Program at UNT. She has also taught young students for the Australian Institute of Music.
Her violin students were members of the:
Texas All-State Orchestras
All-Region 2, All-Region 20 and All-Region 24 Middle and High School Orchestras
Greater North Dallas Youth Orchestra
Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
Greater Fort Worth Youth Orchestra
Lone Star Youth Orchestra
Dallas Asian-American Youth Orchestra
Her students have earned:
High School Social Music Diploma from The National Guild of Piano Teachers
Gold medals at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest (TSSEC)
Gold/Silver/Bronze medals for State Theory Test from Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA)
Medals for State World of Music from TMTA
Winner and Outstanding essays for State Publication Essay Contest from TMTA
Her students are published authors for the Texas Music Teachers Association Publication Issue 2016 – 2022.
Lim-Smith is a member of the:
The National Guild of Piano Teachers (Teacher Division of American College of Musicians)
Texas Music Educators Association
Arlington Music Teachers Association
Carrollton Music Teachers Association
Music Teachers National Association
The Smiths released six CD’s featuring the violin and guitar. In 2012, they released a Jazz Christmas CD called “Joyful” to benefit the orphans in the care of Buckner International and Shoes For Orphan Souls.
In 2013, the Smiths launched Hits On Ten. Hits On Ten features both of them on violin and guitar. The launching of Hits On Ten coincides with the release of their 2nd CD entitled “Love’s In The Air: Volume 1.”
Lim-Smith is affiliated with the following associations:
Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide
Oxford Who’s Who Worldwide
Continental Who’s Who of National Business Leaders
National Association of Professional Women
The International Women’s Leadership Association
National Association of Distinguished Professionals
In 2017, Lim-Smith is a member of Women of Excellence.
In 2017, Lim-Smith was awarded Pinnacle Professional Member by Continental Who’s Who of National Business Leaders.
In 2017, Lim-Smith was awarded Top Tier of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Recognition by Oxford Who’s Who Worldwide.
In 2017, Lim-Smith was awarded the Professional Of The Year in Music Education/Entertainment/Music by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide.
In 2016, Lim-Smith was awarded the Professional Of The Year in Music Education/Entertainment/Music by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide.
In 2015, Lim-Smith was awarded the Professional Of The Year in Music Education/Entertainment/Music by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide.
In 2015, Lim-Smith was awarded the Woman Of Outstanding Leadership by The International Women’s Leadership Association.
In 2015, Lim-Smith was featured in the Women of Distinction Magazine Fall 2015 by the National Association of Distinguished Professionals.
In 2014, Lim-Smith was awarded the VIP Woman Of The Year by the National Association of Professional Women.
Lim-Smith is an Honored Member of the Continental Who’s Who of National Business Leaders.
Jason Lim, Violin/Viola
Jason Lim received his formal training in viola performance when he won a music scholarship to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with Alice Waten. The following year, Lim commenced his studies at the Australian National University and earned his Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney. While in Canberra, he began his conducting studies as an apprentice with the Canberra Youth Orchestra and served as assistant conductor with the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra in Sydney. Lim added to his awards and achievements the New South Wales Ministry of Arts Conducting Scholarship, the South Carolina Conductor’s Institute Fellowship Award, and the Australian Opera and Arts Scholarship Award. Lim has also attended the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Maine. While pursuing a Master of Music degree in conducting at the University of North Texas, Lim led the NOVA Ensemble in its first commercial recording in 2000.
Under the auspices of the “Equilibrum” label, Lim conducted the world premier performance of Brian Bavelander’s Distant Visions for orchestra and pre recorded tape. Lim held the position of music director and conductor of NOVA for two years. Lim dedicates a majority of his time conducting new music and has been invited to conduct in conventions such as the SEAMUS Y2K (the acousma tex conference) and the North American Saxophone Alliance. In 2004, Lim conducted the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra Classical subscription concert and conducted the Abilene premier of Michael Remson’s opera, Sibanda. Lim also conducted Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood with the Hardin-Simmons University Opera.
In recent years, Lim has dedicated his talents to working with young musicians, conducting orchestra workshops in Asia and the United States. He served as conductor and educator for three years at the Abilene Summer Music Festival in affiliation with Hardin-Simmons University. Lim remains an active performing violist. Lim has performed with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony of Malaysia, Australian National Opera Orchestra and the Texas Baroque Ensemble. Lim was a member of the University of North Texas Graduate String Quartet, under the sponsorship of the Liberace Foundation Scholarship.
Affiliate Members:
Mike Springer, Piano
Sydney Barber, Piano
Bridget Bem, Piano
Brenno Lima, Piano
Andy Sperandeo, Vocals & Guitar
Adri Cordero Rojas, Vocals & Guitar/Piano
Edgar Valenzuela, Violin/ Viola
Edgar Valenzuela, concertmaster of the Irving Philharmonic, frequently subs for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.