About Me

I’m Cole Smith, a Connecticut-born, classically trained violinist and arranger. My playing blends classical precision with the warmth and freedom of folk traditions. I began playing violin at age nine, building my roots with the Norwalk Youth Symphony, chamber ensembles, bluegrass groups, and Acoustic Wilton—a community organization raising funds for local causes.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of performing with Ted Sablay (longtime guitarist and musical director for The Killers), opening for acts like The Wallflowers and Chris Isaak. In the studio, I’ve arranged strings and recorded fiddle solos for TV and film producer Mark Vogel, film composer Marc Giguere, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Fo Daniels, and folk-duo Addie and Cole.

During the pandemic, I began teaching remotely through the W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville. That experience sparked a lasting passion for music education, honing my ability to tailor lessons and pass on practical, intuitive knowledge to students of any background or skill level.

Today, I’m based in Covington, Kentucky, performing and arranging alongside pianist Addie in our duo, Addie and Cole. Together, we bring a fresh, emotive take to classical, pop, and folk repertoire, and we’re currently in the studio recording our second original album. Beyond our duo work, I offer private instruction, custom string arrangements, and mix-ready remote violin tracking for artists, producers, and filmmakers.