Marshunda Smith

Marshunda Smith

Instruments

Violin, Cello, Viola

Rate

$48 / half hour lesson

Availability

Thursdays

Bio

Welcome to the captivating world of music under the baton of PostPardon: the Opera’s and Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra’s newest Music Director and Conductor, Marshunda Smith. Having spent nearly two decades as a New England resident, Marshunda seeks to brings a vibrant and diverse musical background to the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra. Her journey through the world of music is a testament to her unwavering passion and dedication to the art form and the artists behind it.

Originally hailing from Tennessee, Marshunda’s love affair with music began when she picked up the cello in the 6th grade, initially driven by a teenage crush but soon discovering her true love for the instrument. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, setting the stage for her musical journey.

While teaching at a local high school, Marshunda’s enthusiasm for conducting and teaching music blossomed. This newfound passion led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting with a focus on Music Education at the University of Southern Maine. Throughout her journey, Marshunda has been fortunate to receive mentorship from conductors such as James Fellenbaum, Victor Yampolsky, Robert Lehmann, Harold Farberman, Richard Rosenberg, Gregory Pritchard, Adrian Gnam and Philip Greenberg.

During her time in Maine, Marshunda’s conducting talents shone as she led youth orchestras guest conducted at various music festivals in the state. However, her musical journey ultimately brought her to the Boston area, where she established herself in the North Shore community while maintaining connections in Maine and New Hampshire.

Marshunda’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of classical music led her to co-found the groundbreaking No-Name Orchestra of Boston. This innovative ensemble challenges the norm by bringing together soloists and orchestra members to perform works with no rehearsals, fostering spontaneous and captivating musical experiences. Now in its 9th year, the No-Name Orchestra continues to captivate audiences with its unique approach, performing at least three times a year across the Boston metro area.

In February of 2018, Marshunda made history by guest conducting the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, becoming the orchestra’s second female conductor in two decades and the first African American conductor in its 70-year history. 2018 was a significant year for Marshunda as she enchanted audiences across the Boston area with her Coquettish Dances program, a chamber music sensation. This program resonated with her hometown in Tennessee, when she returned to offer her first concert in Chattanooga in two decades, releasing Coquettish Dances as an album soon after. Her album can be found on Amazon and Spotify.

Beyond her musical endeavors, Marshunda is a dedicated educator, inspiring the next generation of musicians. From 2014 til 2024 she passed on her unique blend of passion and quirkiness to her students at the Waldorf School in Beverly, MA. Also, since 1998, Marshunda has maintained a private music studio for violin, viola, and cello students. In addition, Marshunda shares her wealth of knowledge by mentoring fellow Waldorf teachers across the United States, and she is currently working on her first book, further solidifying her legacy in the world of music education.

Her approachability and genuine love for music and education are evident in every note she conducts (sometimes dancing on the podium), and every moment of her teaching students! as she brings together the orchestra and the audience.

Cancelation Policy

Marshunda strongly prefers rescheduling over canceling. She requires 12 hours notice to reschedule, and 48 hours to cancel.
BROWSE TEACHERS

Maija Melbardis

Voice
Availability
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays
Bio
Maija (pronounced as “Maya”) began her classical training in the Bel Canto technique at the age of six. Although originally from California, she spent most of her upbringing on the East Coast in Rhode Island. Moving…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited Cancellations with 24 hours notice

Jordan Perillo

Voice, Piano, Music Theory
Availability
Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Bio
Jordan has over 5 years of experience as a piano and voice instructor, teaching many styles, such as classical, pop, rock, jazz, and R&B/Soul. He has two B.A. degrees from the University of South Florida (Music…
Cancellation Policy
One Free Cancellation Allowed Per Month.

Yuching Fass

Piano
Availability
Mondays - Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
Bio
Yuching is a dedicated piano teacher who teaches all styles and ages and has a remarkable talent for working with children. Yuching's teaching style is characterized by her extraordinary patience and genuine passion for nurturing young…
Cancellation Policy
1 Cancellation allowed per month with 24 hours notice.

Tom Groleau

Drums, Guitar, Bass
Availability
Monday-Thursday (all day) Friday-Sunday (Mornings)
Bio
Tom, a musician hailing from Laconia, NH., started his musical journey at the young age of 4 and began performing at local venues on a regular basis by the age of 13. He began studying the…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Brian Locher

Guitar, Voice, Ukulele, Bass, Drums
Availability
Monday - Thursday 3:30pm - 9:00pm
Bio
Brian has been teaching and playing professionally for over 25 years. He studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood California, the University Of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Conservatory, and Indiana State. He holds multiple degrees in music…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited Cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Marisa Merchan

Piano
Availability
Wednesday-Friday 3:30pm-7:30pm
Bio
Marisa Merchan is a passionate music educator from Venezuela. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music and a major in Choral Conducting from Los Andes University. During her time in Massachusetts, she has been teaching music…
Cancellation Policy
One Free Cancelation Allowed Per Month: Contact Marisa directly with at least 24 hours notice.

Jill Good

Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano
Availability
Tuesdays
Bio
Violinist Jill Good has been an innovator in musical education. From her 30+ years of teaching experience, she developed a super fun and groundbreaking class for 2.5 - 5-year-old beginners in New York City called Crackerjack…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited Cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Erinn Brown

Voice, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele
Availability
Thursdays and Saturdays
Bio
Erinn is an accomplished singer/songwriter, guitarist & teacher with 3 well-received CDs of original music. Her music is a rootsy hybrid of Rock, Soul, and Blues. STEVE MORSE, longtime Boston Globe reviewer said this about her…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Randy Levanthal

Guitar, Bass, Ukulele and Ensembles
Availability
Wednesdays and Fridays
Bio
Randy has been a Guitar, Bass, and Ensemble instructor on the North Shore for 30 years. He specializes in rock, blues, and funk, with a focus on improvisation and songwriting. Taking on all ages, he personalizes…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Robert Silver

Classical Piano, Latin Piano
Availability
Fridays after 3pm
Bio
Robert first encountered and fell in love with the music of the piano at the ripe old age of four when he heard Richard Clayderman for the first time. It was then that he realized he…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Austin Klipp

Piano
Availability
Monday - Wednesday
Bio
Austin Klipp is a piano player and singer based in Beverly. He began classical piano lessons at age 6.  He took to it naturally and before long he branched out into improvisation and learned to play…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited Cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Brian Thompson

Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Cornet
Availability
Tuesdays and Sundays
Bio
Brian, a lifelong resident of the Beverly area, is an actively performing musician with a remarkable teaching career spanning over three decades. His passion for teaching stems from the deep connection he shares with his students,…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited Cancellations with 24 hours notice.

Aaron Chase

Songwriting and Music Production
Availability
Sunday Mornings and Monday Evenings
Bio
Aaron was born outside of Boston to two musician parents. Growing up in his father's recording studio, he was immersed not only in music, but the music creation process.  He naturally gravitated to performing and began…
Cancellation Policy
Unlimited Cancellations with 24 hours notice.

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