ANCHORAGE, AK, January 12, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Rumi Smith is a distinguished biographee of Marquis Who's Who. She was recently spotlighted in New York City's Times Square on a 22-story screen that is passed by an estimated 1.5 million people daily. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals and are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Smith has established a distinguished career in music education and piano performance. Since 1991, she has served as an adjunct professor of piano and adjunct faculty member at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. In this capacity, Ms. Smith has dedicated herself to nurturing her students' musical talents, guiding them through rigorous training and fostering their artistic growth. Her commitment to teaching extends beyond the university setting, as she is also a private studio instructor who provides individualized instruction to aspiring pianists.

Throughout her tenure at the University of Alaska, Ms. Smith has demonstrated exceptional expertise in both music education and piano performance. Her students have achieved notable success in competitions, including the Music Teachers National Association at state, division, and national levels, the Marguerite Downey Competition, and the Alaska Piano Competition. One of her students also earned first prize at the American Piano Forum at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Ms. Smith's pupils have performed at prestigious venues, including Steinway Hall and on WQXR-FM in New York City. In 2023, two of her students won local concerto competitions and performed with the Anchorage Civic Orchestra and the Anchorage Youth Symphony.

Originally from Hirosaki, Japan, Ms. Smith's career began with early piano studies under her father's guidance at age four. She later studied with Makoto Takahashi of the Musashino College of Music in Tokyo before pursuing higher education at Miyagi National University of Education in Sendai. There, Ms. Smith earned a Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in piano performance in 1989 and a Master of Music Education with an emphasis in piano performance in 1991, under the direction of Fukuko Matsuda. During her time at Miyagi National University of Education, she also served as a staff accompanist for faculty recitals, further honing her collaborative skills.

Ms. Smith's influence extends to being invited several times to serve as a judge for the Music Teachers' Association of California in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, reflecting her ongoing commitment to professional development and engagement within her field.

Throughout her career, Ms. Smith has given extensive concert performances across Japan and internationally. In 2011, she toured six cities in China alongside her husband, Timothy Smith, and conducted a master class at the Chongqing School for the Arts. More recently, the duo presented a two-piano concert at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Ms. Smith's performances have notably contributed to fundraising concerts and other civic-minded initiatives, underscoring her dedication to community engagement through music.

In addition to her teaching and performing responsibilities, Ms. Smith hopes that Alaska will continue to develop as a culturally vibrant region where young families can thrive through access to excellent educators and supportive musical environments.

Ms. Smith attributes her success to her enthusiasm for teaching and the progress she observes in her students. Her ongoing goal is to make Alaska a premier destination for music education while fostering a trustworthy and supportive environment for young musicians and their families.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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