About Marshunda Smith

Marshunda Smith is a conductor, cellist, and educator known for building musical spaces where rigor and humanity coexist—and where musicians actually grow.

Currently serving as Music Director and Conductor of the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra and PostPardon: The Opera, Marshunda brings nearly two decades of experience in New England’s musical and educational communities. Her work is rooted in clarity, curiosity, and a deep respect for the musicians in front of her—whether they are professionals, students, or adults returning to music later in life.

Originally from Tennessee, Marshunda began her musical life as a cellist in middle school and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While teaching at the secondary level, she discovered that her strongest work lived at the intersection of teaching, leadership, and musical interpretation. This led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting with a focus on Music Education at the University of Southern Maine, where she studied with and learned from a wide range of conducting mentors whose approaches emphasized both technical precision and expressive responsibility.

Marshunda is the co-founder and director of the No-Name Orchestra of Boston, an ensemble now in its ninth year that challenges conventional rehearsal models by performing substantial repertoire without rehearsals. The ensemble’s success rests on trust, preparation, and listening—values that also define her teaching. She is also the founder and Music Director of the Cherry Hill Chamber Orchestra, a professional ensemble created to explore repertoire with intimacy, flexibility, and shared ownership.

In 2018, Marshunda made history as the first African American conductor and the second woman to guest conduct the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra in its 70-year history. That same year, she developed and toured Coquettish Dances, a chamber music program that later became her debut album. The project marked a return to her hometown of Chattanooga after two decades and reflected her commitment to bringing high-level music-making into direct, personal relationship with audiences.

Education remains central to Marshunda’s work. She spent ten years teaching in the Waldorf School community in Beverly, Massachusetts, while maintaining a private studio for violin, viola, and cello students—work she continues today. She also mentors Waldorf music educators nationally, supporting teachers in building programs that are musically rigorous, emotionally intelligent, and sustainable.

As a teacher, Marshunda is especially sought after by adult students—those beginning for the first time or returning after years away—who are looking for serious instruction without fear, pressure, or performance anxiety. Her teaching prioritizes consistency, bodily awareness, expressive commitment, and clear thinking over perfectionism. Students often remark that they feel both challenged and deeply at ease—a rare and powerful combination.

On the podium or in the studio, Marshunda is known for her physical, expressive communication and her refusal to separate musical excellence from human connection. She believes music should feel alive, purposeful, and honest—and that learning should never rely on intimidation to be effective.

If you are looking for a teacher or conductor who understands both the craft of music and the psychology of learning it, Marshunda Smith offers a space where musicians don’t just improve—they stay engaged, curious, and committed.