Carter Smith is a conductor and performer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is currently working as the Acting Director of Music Ministries for the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor and the Interim Conductor for the Arts Chorale of Greater Lansing while he is in the final stages of completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. Prior to moving to Ann Arbor, Carter enjoyed a variety of professional opportunities in secondary education, opera, musical theater, and church music. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) from Louisiana State University, where he studied with Dr. Lori Bade and Prof. Dennis Jesse and a Master of Music (Conducting) from LSU, where he studied with Dr. Kenneth Fulton and Maestro Carlos Riazuelo.