Robin Smith was the first Musical Director of Surrey Brass, and was influential during its founding.

In 2001 he was approached by John Goodwin, who asked him to lead the brand new ensemble. Robin was extremely enthusiastic about the idea and was highly influential in getting the new ensemble "off the ground" and conducted it for several years. He returned in 2019 to resume conducting the ensemble.

He is the third generation of his family to be a brass player: his grandfather was a renowned cornetist with the Gloucester Salvation Army and his father, Malcolm ‘Smudge’ Smith was Principal Trumpet with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

Robin studied the trumpet at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Today, he is a professional trumpeter and educator in London having performed and recorded with most of the major London symphony orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. Further afield he has worked with Guildford Philharmonic, The Ulster Orchestra and Orquesta Symphonica de Tenerife.

Robin’s main passion in music is education. He specialises in coaching brass ensembles currently having six under his baton, including the Dulwich Brass Collective.  He is Head of Brass at Dulwich College. Robin has also taught at The Centre for Young Musicians in central London.

Living in South East London, Robin has taught the fourth and fifth generations of Smiths to play the trumpet, his sister Katie and children Erin & Toby.