Sylvia Smith is owner and editor of Smith Publications and Sonic Art Editions, publishing houses specializing in contemporary Western art music. For her work in promoting new and unusual music, Sylvia Smith has been awarded the American Music Center Letter of Distinction, numerous Paul Revere awards for graphic excellence, and an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Akron. In addition, Dr. Smith was an honored guest at Darmstadt Musikinstitut in Germany in 1988 and again in 1990. Sylvia Smith is a distinguished percussionist specializing in compositions for vocalist/percussionist, and percussion with text. She has recorded for O.O. Discs and 11 West Records and has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Merkin Hall in New York City, Rutgers University, and toured in California with her percussion duo conTEXT. She is also the artistic director of the UMBC New Music Ensemble.