Pamela Smits was born in Ottawa, Canada and grew up in the Netherlands. She began her cello studies at a young age with the Czech cellist Jirí Prchal at the Stedelijk Conservatorium in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands and completed her Music Teacher degree at 19 years of age. She continued her studies as a pupil of the French cellist Jean Decroos (principal cellist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at the time) at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, where she received her Diploma of Music Performance. 

Having been awarded Dutch scholarships enabled her to further her studies with famed cellist and teacher
Janos Starker at Indiana University in Bloomington, USA. She received the Performer diploma from Indiana University, where she also worked with pianists Shigeo Neriki and György Sebök in chamber music. She regularly participated in summer courses and master classes given by, for instance, Christopher Bunting, Anner Bylsma, Natalia Gutman, Lynn Harrel, Steven Isserlis, Ivan Monighetti, Miloš Sádlo, Paul Tortelier, Saša Večtomov and the renowned pianist/teacher György Sebök in Ernen, Switzerland.

During her study, Ms. Smits received recognition on a number of occasions. She was awarded an honorary prize for her performance during the Postbank Sweelinck Cello Competition 1992 in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and won the Indiana University Cello Competition 1993 in Bloomington (USA). From 1994 to 1997, Ms. Smits was co-principal cellist of the New World Symphony in Miami, US, directed by Michael Tilson Thomas.

As a soloist Ms. Smits appeared with orchestras on both sides of the Atlantic, performing cello concertos by Schumann, Tchaikovsky's Rococo variations, Haydn D major, Boccherini Bflat major, C.Ph.E. Bach and Händel, with various orchestras, such as the ‘Het Orkest’ under the baton of Russian conductor Alexander Vakoulsky, the New World Chamber Orchestra in Miami Beach with Taras Krysa and the Haydn Youth String Orchestra with Ben de Ligt performing a 10-concert tour in the Netherlands. She also appeared as a soloist with the Stringorchestra Zoroaster conducted by Hermand Draaisma in Dutch composer Hans Kox's First Cello Concerto (1969/’81). This marked the start of a closer cooperation between the composer and Ms. Smits.

Ms. Smits has made concert tours to the Antilles, Germany, England, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Israel, Monaco, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Hong Kong and the United States and has played recitals in the Kleine Zaal of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Doelen in Rotterdam, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Meistersaal in Berlin and at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. She also regularly works together with musicologists and philosophers, such as Dr. Albert van der Schoot and gives combined recital and lecture programs with them. Last season the Posthuis Theatre in Heerenveen (NL) organized a special series of 7 concerts around the cellist: the 'Pamela Smits and Friends Concerts' and has invited her for next coming seasons to continue the series. Some of these concerts are combined with a wine tasting in collaboration with the vinologist of the Oude Wijnhoeve.

Together with the German pianist Sabine Simon, Ms. Smits recorded two CDs: 'Felix Austria'
(October 2010), a CD with repertoire by Czech and Hungarian composers, released on the label Universe Classics, and 'The French Cello’ (2004), which is re-released by Universe Classics in March 2011. The two musicians have done various tours together, including performances in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

Since 2009 Dutch pianist Maarten den Hengst is a regular recital partner. Together they have performed many concerts in the Netherlands and Germany, such as in the kleine zaal of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and in a concert series around the known Dutch composer Hans Kox. They have appeared in several live radio broadcasts, such as in the Spiegelzaal of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and a future joined CD recording with French repertoire is scheduled for the Universe Classics label as well.

An avid chamber musician, Ms. Smits has collaborated with musicians from Asia, America and Europe. She concertized which such artists as the English harpsichordist Chris Farr, the Miami String Quartet, violinists Jamie Laredo and Lucian-Leonard Raiciof, flutist Marieke Schneemann and with pianists Paolo Giacometti, Jee Won Oh, Jet Röling, Sander Sittig and Hans Eijsackers. To commemorate the 100th birthday of Olivier Messiaen, she performed in January 2008 Messiaen’s ‘Quartet for the End of Time’ in concert with clarinettist Arno Piters, violinist Nienke van Rijn -both members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra- and the London based Swedish pianist Petra Casén. In 2009 she founded the Pentachord Ensemble together with pianist Maarten den Hengst, violinist Emi Ohi Resnick, violist Mikhail Zemtsov and double bass player Quirijn van Regteren Altena.

Her repertoire is a reflection of her extensive musical interests and encompasses compositions from the baroque, romantic, and up through the contemporary periods. She also takes a special interest in teaching, having taught since the age of 16, and served as a teaching assistant to Jiri Prchal at the Stedelijk Conservatory in Leeuwarden for three years until her graduation. In 2008 she taught a masterclass as a demonstration via a high speed internet connection in collaboration with Internet2, INHolland and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach.

Ms. Smits is the daughter of pianists Ben Smits (student of Bela Siki and Clara Haskil) and Greta Lang (student of Cornelius Berkhout) and she currently lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.