SERENATA STRINGS - Key Persons
Chris Aucoin is comfortable performing all genres of music, and has performed countless performances in all venues, ranging from local night clubs, churches, hotel ballrooms and symphony halls. In addition to Serenata Strings, he has performed as a member of the Dallas Civic Wind Ensemble, the nationally known Bill Tillman Band, Soul Tsunami (12 years), Celebration Orchestra (big band), Professor D, MAXX, The G-Men, Midnight Snack, All Saints Brass, Rock Bottom, Mariachi Adonai, and Souled Out. In addition, as a freelance musician, he has played with many other local groups including Bulletproof Brass, King Creole, Robert Lee Kobb, Groove Posse, Ken Savage and the Best Kept Secret, and Lindy and the Look. Aucoin has performed as a soloist at hundreds of weddings, and his performances have been heard on TV commercials in several states. In addition to performing, Aucoin is an accomplished arranger, having written and transcribed hundreds of horn arrangements for numerous horn sections in the DFW area. This was a natural progression in his career, and just another aspect to his musical career that he finds very fulfilling.
Job Titles:
- Professor at Baylor University
Jason Lim received his formal training in viola performance when he won a music scholarship to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with Alice Waten. The following year, Lim commenced his studies at the Australian National University and earned his Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney. While in Canberra, he began his conducting studies as an apprentice with the Canberra Youth Orchestra and served as assistant conductor with the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra in Sydney. Lim added to his awards and achievements the New South Wales Ministry of Arts Conducting Scholarship, the South Carolina Conductor's Institute Fellowship Award, and the Australian Opera and Arts Scholarship Award. Lim has also attended the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Maine. While pursuing a Master of Music degree in conducting at the University of North Texas, Lim led the NOVA Ensemble in its first commercial recording in 2000.
Under the auspices of the "Equilibrum" label, Lim conducted the world premier performance of Brian Bavelander's Distant Visions for orchestra and pre recorded tape. Lim held the position of music director and conductor of NOVA for two years. Lim dedicates a majority of his time conducting new music and has been invited to conduct in conventions such as the SEAMUS Y2K (the acousma tex conference) and the North American Saxophone Alliance. In 2004, Lim conducted the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra Classical subscription concert and conducted the Abilene premier of Michael Remson's opera, Sibanda. Lim also conducted Seymour Barab's Little Red Riding Hood with the Hardin-Simmons University Opera.
In recent years, Lim has dedicated his talents to working with young musicians, conducting orchestra workshops in Asia and the United States. He served as conductor and educator for three years at the Abilene Summer Music Festival in affiliation with Hardin-Simmons University. Lim remains an active performing violist. Lim has performed with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony of Malaysia, Australian National Opera Orchestra and the Texas Baroque Ensemble. Lim was a member of the University of North Texas Graduate String Quartet, under the sponsorship of the Liberace Foundation Scholarship.
Jay Smith has extensive experience as a private lesson instructor and director of various ensembles. Smith began teaching professionally during his senior year in high school and has continued full time for the past 17 years. In addition to teaching independently and at Music Starz Studios, Smith has also taught at the university level. He spent 5 years teaching at the University of North Texas in Denton, where he gave private lessons and directed the UNT Classical Guitar Ensemble. Smith also served on the faculty of the Community Music Program while at UNT.
Smith earned his Bachelor of Music degree with a double major in guitar performance and music education from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He completed his Master of Music degree at UNT, focusing on guitar performance and musicology. In 2006, Smith became Dr. Jay when he graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree at UNT. His area of study was again guitar performance and musicology. Smith's doctoral dissertation consisted of an analysis and performance guide for Mexican composer Manuel Ponce's Guitar Sonata III.
In addition to teaching, Smith has stayed active as a performer by playing in numerous solo and ensemble settings. Smith grew up playing in many local rock and pop bands, while studying jazz and classical music privately. In addition to performing with Serenata Strings, I Virtuosi and giving numerous solo classical guitar recitals, Smith has performed with The Tulsa Opera, playing the guitar solo on their production of the Barber of Seville. He has performed for Christopher Parkening, Stephen Robinson, Stanley Yates and Javier Calderon. In a jazz setting, Smith has performed on bass and guitar with such artists as Frank Mantooth and Neil Harmon. Throughout his career, Smith has always strived to be versatile in his approach to teaching as well as performing. As a result, he has a varied background that has enabled him to teach and perform a wide variety of musical styles.
A native Texan, trumpeter Joel Adair graduated summa cum laude in trumpet performance at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana where he studied with Galindo Rodriguez, and completed a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance at Illinois State University studying with Dr. Amy Gilreath.
Adair has performed across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with Serenata Strings, Celebration Jazz Orchestra, as lead trumpet with the Bill Tillman Band, and subbed with Crosswinds Jazz Band, First Baptist Church Euless Big Band, and Brookhaven College Lab Band. He has performed across the country with numerous groups including the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony Brass Ensemble, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Brass Band of Central Illinois, Illinois State University and Bands of America Summer Symposium Faculty Brass Quintets, Ron Scott Jazz Orchestra, Peoria Municipal Band, and the Northwestern State University Baroque Trumpet Ensemble. Musicals and operettas performed include Bernstein's West Side Story, Strauss's Die Fledermaus, and Les Misérables.
Adair performed as principal trumpet in ensembles accompanying: Kyle Engler, international mezzo soprano soloist and McDaniel College faculty; Nikita Fitenko, internationally acclaimed pianist, Yamaha Artist, and Associate Professor of Piano at the Catholic University of America; Jeff Snider, international baritone soloist and Chair of Vocal Studies at The University of North Texas; Carolyn and Stephen Warner, The Cleveland Duo, pianist and violinist with the Cleveland Orchestra; and Julian Dawson, Adjunct Piano Professor at Northwestern University. Adair has also played in big bands accompanying jazz trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, trumpet soloist with the Army Blues jazz ensemble Graham Breedlove, and tenor saxophonist with Astral Project and Professor of Saxophone at Loyola University, Tony Dagradi. Likewise, he has also performed with numerous faculty members at both Northwestern State and Illinois State Universities.
Adair has recorded with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and with the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, and has performed on 13 world premiere performances. Additionally, he has performed with the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Louisiana Intercollegiate Band, and with various ensembles at the Texas Music Educator's Association conference, Louisiana Music Educator's Association conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the 2008 National Association of Composers USA (NACUSA) concert at the Eisemann Center.
As a teacher/clinician, Adair has served as head counselor for the NSU Honors Band Camp, ISU Jr. High Band Camp, and trumpet instructor for band camps/retreats in Texas, Louisiana, and Illinois. He was also trumpet instructor for the Illinois State University Community School for the Arts, and currently teaches private trumpet lessons in the Duncanville, DeSoto, and Mesquite school districts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the: the National Guild of Piano Teachers
- Member of Women of Excellence
Karen Lim-Smith started playing the piano by ear at 2. Five years later, she went on to win her first piano competition. At 8, she had also picked up the violin. At 12, she was the youngest member to tour with the Penang Symphony Orchestra to Adelaide and Melbourne for the Adelaide Music Festival. That same year, she was the youngest musician selected to represent her country Malaysia with the ASEAN Symphony Orchestra in Thailand.
Lim-Smith is also a string clinician serving orchestra students in the DFW area.
Lim-Smith is a very active performer and teacher. Lim-Smith has toured with Andrea Bocelli and Diana Ross and the Supremes throughout the United States. She appeared frequently with The Dallas Opera Orchestra and The Tulsa Opera Orchestra during the operatic seasons. She also performed on baroque instruments with the Fort Worth Early Music and the Orchestra of New Spain.
Lim-Smith is a member of the:
The National Guild of Piano Teachers (Teacher Division of American College of Musicians)
Texas Music Educators Association
Arlington Music Teachers Association
Carrollton Music Teachers Association
Music Teachers National Association
In 2017, Lim-Smith is a member of Women of Excellence. In 2017, Lim-Smith was awarded Pinnacle Professional Member by Continental Who's Who of National Business Leaders. In 2017, Lim-Smith was awarded Top Tier of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Recognition by Oxford Who's Who Worldwide. In 2017, Lim-Smith was awarded the Professional Of The Year in Music Education/Entertainment/Music by Strathmore's Who's Who Worldwide. In 2016, Lim-Smith was awarded the Professional Of The Year in Music Education/Entertainment/Music by Strathmore's Who's Who Worldwide. In 2015, Lim-Smith was awarded the Professional Of The Year in Music Education/Entertainment/Music by Strathmore's Who's Who Worldwide. In 2015, Lim-Smith was awarded the Woman Of Outstanding Leadership by The International Women's Leadership Association. In 2015, Lim-Smith was featured in the Women of Distinction Magazine Fall 2015 by the National Association of Distinguished Professionals. In 2014, Lim-Smith was awarded the VIP Woman Of The Year by the National Association of Professional Women. Lim-Smith is an Honored Member of the Continental Who's Who of National Business Leaders.