The Life Sciences Orchestra (LSO) at the University of Michigan is lead by Clinton Smith, a Doctoral student in the Department of Conducting at the University of Michigan School of Music.

In addition to being the Music Director and Conductor of the Life Sciences Orchestra, Clinton Smith is Assistant Conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra, University Philharmonia Orchestra and the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. He recently graduated with his Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan studying with Kenneth Kiesler. Smith holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas in Piano Performance. Smith has conducted a total of nineteen orchestras in the six years he has been an active conductor.

A native of Texas, Smith was Music Director of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra, Conductor of the University of Texas Undergraduate Opera, and Assistant Conducted Suor Angelia and Gianni Schicchi with the University of Texas Graduate Opera. While with the Starlight Symphony, he inspired unprecedented expansion and artistic development leading classical and pops series concerts. In addition, he was Music Director of the Advanced and Philharmonia Youth Orchestras associated with the University of Texas String Project. As conductor of the Philharmonia, a youth orchestra of seventy, he worked with wit and tireless energy to inspire young people to love music and keep the art alive.

Summer 2007 is Smith's fifth with the Austrian/American Mozart Opera Academy in Salzburg, serving as Resident Conductor and Coach. The Academy, affiliated with the University of Texas, draws upon talented singers and instrumentalists from all over the world to participate in an intense six-week program. 2006, dubbed "The Mozart Year," marked Mozart's 250th birthday and joining in on the festivities, Smith conducted several performances of Mozart's Zaide and Der Schauspieldirektor in the Kapitalsaal Theatre in Salzburg, Austria. This summer he will conduct Le nozze di Figaro. In addition to his work in Salzburg, he will serve on the staff as Assistant Conductor and Coach with the International Institute of Vocal arts in Chiari, Italy. During this four-week program, he will be preparing and performing Le nozze di Figaro, La Boheme, Orfeo ed Euridice, aria and sacred music concerts both in Chiari and in neighboring towns of Lago d'Iseo, Orzinuovi, and Cologne.