Victor Ngo-Smith
Founder/Executive Director
Victor Ngo-Smith’s journey with music and art began with a simple, donated piano. Growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, his parents—both refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia—had always dreamed of learning to play music. When Victor and his sister showed a curiosity for piano, their parents made sure they had the opportunity to take lessons. From those early, joyful discoveries at the keys, a lifelong passion for music and the arts was born.
Today, Victor channels that passion into New Cottage Arts, an organization he founded in 2019 to transform lives and strengthen communities through music and art education. Under his leadership, New Cottage Arts serves more than 825 students across the Denver metro area with high-dosage, year-round arts programming. With a firm belief in the power of the arts to foster self-esteem, resilience, and community, the organization provides everything from early childhood music classes to teen internship programs that build pathways in education, performance, and entrepreneurship. Through targeted outreach, NCA also partners with refugee families, at-risk youth, and underserved communities, using music and visual storytelling to combat violence, promote healing, and ignite joy.
A classically trained pianist, Victor earned his performance degrees from Northwestern University and The Juilliard School. He has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York and has worked with students across Chicago, NYC, and Denver, always prioritizing access to arts education for all.
Victor sees himself as a lifelong learner and an enthusiastic collaborator. Every day, he is energized by the immense talents of his students, teachers, and staff, and he remains committed to creating an inclusive, vibrant, and joyous learning environment. Whether he’s teaching a music class, spearheading a public art project, or supporting community-led initiatives, his mission is clear: to uplift, empower, and inspire.