Young Artist Concerto Competition

Kealia Grace Smith is a sophomore at the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science.  A cello student of Thomas Kraines, she is a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and All Shore Orchestra, and has previously performed with the New Jersey Intermediate All-State Orchestra, Symphony in C Youth Orchestra, Rowan Youth Orchestra, and the Garden State Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She is also the cellist in the Capanna Piano Trio.

In addition to cello, Kealia Grace studies piano with McEwan Walters and conducting with Rosalind Erwin. She has performed in master classes with Yumi Kendall of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Northwestern University’s Hans Jørgen Jensen, and soloist Thomas Mesa. She has attended the Heifetz International Music Festival, Ascent Cello Festival at University of Cincinnati, Credo 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 ten years and has a background in classical ballet, film, and theatre. 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. Kealia Grace is currently Miss Stafford 2023, with a platform of bringing classical music to her community. When she’s not practicing, Kealia enjoys reading, writing, meteorology, spending time with her rescue pug and four rescue cats, and volunteering for Project Terrapin.

Kealia Grace is a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist.