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Randall Reid-Smith
Curator , West Virginia Department of Arts , Culture and History
ARIANNA WHITEHAIR
Photo by Steve Brightwell .
“ IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK because in my life , so much has been given to me . God has abundantly blessed me .”
This gratitude is what drives Randall Reid-Smith , who is currently serving his 17th year as commissioner and curator for the West Virginia Department of Arts , Culture and History . Growing up in Barboursville , WV , Reid-Smith credits the local library ’ s summer book reading clubs and arts programs for fueling his lifelong passion for the arts ; a passion that would take him all around the world , only to eventually call him back home .
As a professional singer , Reid-Smith apprenticed with the Santa Fe Opera before an international journey where he sang for 14 consecutive and successful seasons .
“ The single most important lesson I learned through being a performing artist is simple : no matter what happens on stage , 10:30 p . m . comes every night . Once the show started , you had to finish regardless of what occurred on stage ,” he says .
Reid-Smith credits his mother , Wilma Smith ; his voice teacher at the Indiana University School of Music , Margaret Hanshaw ; and his European agent , Ilse Zellermayer , for
120 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE