Sara Sandstrom, Gilpin County. Dick Clark said, “Music is the soundtrack of life.” There is nothing closer to the truth than this when you look at the life that Chip and Donna Smith have. 

Chip grew up mostly in Nebraska. He says, “I grew up a Midwest Cornhusker. A meat and potatoes kid.” He attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, on a football and track scholarship with every intention to be a collegiate student athlete for four years. Then, very unexpectedly, music took over. If you have heard Chip sing you will be quickly convinced that he chose the correct path. Even if it wasn’t particularly popular for a football player or his parents’ pocketbook, Chip jumped into a music degree with conviction and passion. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in vocal performance and the musical arts all at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. 

Donna grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She started to play piano at the age of five. Although the lessons were not always what she wanted to be doing at the beginning it soon became a passion. 

Donna earned music and applied voice degrees at Denison University and the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. She has taught at the university level for many years and now holds the title of Professor Emeritus from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. 

Studying languages is also a passion for Donna, particularly French. She loves to study languages and how they use words in poetry and music. While the majority of singers, who are at the level that Chip and Donna are at, prefer to sing in Italian or Spanish, Donna prefers the challenge of singing in French.

Chip added at this point with such honesty and love, “She is the most intelligent person I know.” 

You can probably see that there is a strong common connection here with the University of Nebraska and music. They met in the late 1970s at the university and forged an inseparable friendship. Both committed to teaching and being active in musical theater and musical performance. 

They were married in 1992 in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Leap Day. They were well known professors and performers in Lincoln and their wedding was attended by 300 people. This included the mayor of Lincoln and a Governor of Nebraska. 

Donna and Chip have performed all over the United States and in other countries like Japan, Switzerland, England and Mexico. They love spending their summers on the stage. Donna spent several years with the Aspen Music Festival and Chip’s voice has filled Carnegie Hall. They have even performed together in Little Mary Sunshine and Carousel. 

I had to inquire with all their travels and commitments if they had raised a family. The immediate answer was, “Yes, Shelties.” The Smith’s love their dogs and have also felt that many of their students have been their family. 

When it was time to be thinking about retirement, they moved to Gilpin County, Colorado. But there was no slowing down for these two. Both Chip and Donna volunteer with the local fire department. Chip said he wanted to join the community on a practical level and serve the people. He added that a mentor of his told him that he must do more than just music in his life. He must find ways to be a whole person and have different experiences. 

Chip is a volunteer firefighter with Timberline Fire Protection District. He says that firefighting is a fascinating world. The emotional and physical stress can be extremely taxing. At the same time, he loves the challenge and the service to his neighbors. He enjoys teaching EMT classes and has been the president on the board of directors for Timberline and is now on the board as a member at large. He is extremely proud of the growth Timberline has made in the last several years. 

Donna is an active volunteer with the High Country Auxiliary. This Gilpin County group helps to support Timberline Fire financially with their community fundraisers. They also provide food for firefighters when an emergency call takes several hours. 

Both Donna and Chip are also deeply involved with local theater. The Peak to Peak Players is another way they serve the community. Chip also will be back on the Central City Opera stage in the musical Carousel when it is deemed to be safe to have musical theater again.

With Chip over six feet in height and Donna just over five feet tall they may not look like the typical couple. Although that does not really matter when two people trust and love each other like Donna and Chip do. 

They both agree that they have had amazing careers and are blessed to have done all the things they have been able to do in their lives. These university professors, musical performers and pillars of our community are lifelong learners. Always ready to learn a new opera, a new piano accompaniment, how to make stain glass art and how to serve the community. 

The love of music brought them together. Their love and support for each other keeps them together. 

(Originally published in the February 11, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)