Tinson Lam is a music educator, arts administrator, and professional musician from Lowell, Massachusetts. He completed his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with vocal and instrumental emphases from Asbury University in Kentucky. During his time there, Tinson taught violin for the Bluegrass Arts Collective and participated in opera/musical theatre workshops and choral residencies in England and Italy.

He furthered his education by earning a Master's Degree in Performing Arts Leadership and Management from Shenandoah University in Virginia. Tinson's dedication to education through arts integration was recognized when he won the 2022 Shenandoah University Research Expo.

Currently, Tinson teaches general music, orchestra, and chorus in the Lowell School District. He also offers private voice, violin, and viola lessons through Music Elements in Chelmsford, MA. When not teaching, Tinson music directs and performs for weddings and special events. He actively contributes to the Greater Boston arts scene as a member of multiple orchestras, including the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2019), Firebird Pops Orchestra, North Worcester County Symphony Orchestra, New England Film Orchestra, and Sudbury Savoyards.

Tinson's commitment to the arts extends beyond performance and teaching. He serves as the Interim President of the Gateway City Orchestra and as the Executive Director/President of the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra. Tinson is passionate about arts integration in education, youth development, and engaging and empowering the arts community.

Email: tlam@lowellphilharmonic.org

Susan Uhl-Miller, Vice-President and playing member of the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra, works professionally as values-based and results-focused Human Resources executive with extensive experience working in large and complex not-for-profit healthcare and global higher-education organizations.  Susan joined Fenway Health in Boston, Massachusetts as a Sr. HR leader in the fall of 2023; Fenway Health advocates for and delivers innovative, equitable, accessible healthcare and centers LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals and other underserved communities.

Susan began playing violin at the age of 8 and studied privately with Lee Snyder at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition to the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan has played in various community orchestras to include the Warminster Symphony in Warminster, Pennsylvania, the New Haven Chamber Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of New Haven, both in New Haven Connecticut.  Susan earned her Bachelor of Science in Information Science with minors in Economics and Spanish, Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Susan lives with her wife, Maria, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and additionally enjoys perennial gardening and bee-keeping.

Email: suhlmiller@lowellphilharmonic.org.

Quillyn Smith is the Secretary of the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra. She moved to Lowell in 2021 and was thrilled to find the LPO. She first started playing violin in elementary school and has enjoyed playing in a variety of groups ever since. She loved playing in the pit orchestra during her school's annual musical. Outside of orchestra, Quillyn is a manufacturing engineer and enjoys reading and hiking with her dog.  

Email: qsmith@lowellphilharmonic.org

William Harrer – is a native of Chicago IL and started playing Horn in the 4th grade but put it down in his early 20’s.  A 35-year career in commercial banking we fast forward to a trip back home to Chicago and an evening at Ravinia to see a performance of Tchak 5 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  This inspired him to take up the horn again in the Summer of 2023.

In addition to playing as a section Horn player with the LPO, he plays horn with the Hollis Town Band, has played with the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra, the Reading Community Concert Band, the Manchester Community Theater and the Chamber Orchestra of the Concord Chorale.

“I am blessed to be playing with the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra and am learning so much from the excellent musicians that are assembled there.”  He lives in Andover MA and enjoys going back home to drink beer at Wrigley Field with his best friend Harry, and spending time with his family.

Diane Fallier is a professor at Nashua Community College teaching IT and Cybersecurity courses. She holds a Masters in Computer Science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Diane currently plays with the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hollis Town Band, and Merrimack Valley Flute Choir. She also sings in her church choir.

Email: dfallier@lowellphilharmonic.org.

Owen M. Kelly is a music educator, nonprofit leader, and arts advocate with over a decade of experience in music education, community outreach, and program development. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Music Education (specializing in Community Outreach and Engagement) from UMass Lowell.

Owen is the Founder and Executive Director of Allies in Music Education, Inc. (AME), a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality music and arts programs in the Greater Lowell area. Under his leadership, AME has served over 1,800 community members through innovative programming and outreach. 

He has held roles as program coordinator, director, and instructor at Lowell High School, North Andover High School, and Westford Academy, as well as in community-based programs, focusing on ensemble direction, curriculum development, and inclusive arts education. As a Community Outreach Consultant at UMass Lowell, he has helped develop and implement community-driven music and arts initiatives, strengthening partnerships between the university and the broader Lowell community.

With expertise in strategic planning, nonprofit management, and arts advocacy, Owen is committed to developing sustainable arts initiatives and seeks to unite historic preservation with a forward-thinking cultural institution, ensuring that Lowell’s creative community continues to thrive for generations to come.

Email: okelly@lowellphilharmonic.org

Sarah Martin has been a violin player in the LPO for six years, and proudly served on the board for the last two. Inspired by LPO’s mission to build community through music, Sarah is passionate about making the orchestra’s volunteer experience accessible and inclusive for people of all backgrounds. Whether coordinating concerts or supporting new volunteer initiatives, Sarah plays a vital role in strengthening the ties between LPO and the community it serves. 

The Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes Marshunda Smith as Music Director/Conductor for its 121th season!

Marshunda is a vibrant, spiritual, exciting conductor who leads the orchestra with an immersive style of conducting. A renowned cellist with several recordings sprinkled throughout different genres, she also conducts the Cherry Hill Chamber Orchestraand is the founder of the innovative No-Name Orchestra. Her website, Marshunda.com, is brimming with the joy she expresses in everything she does. Having Marshunda on the podium injects new energy into the orchestra as well as into the City of Lowell.

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 earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

While teaching at a local high school, Marshunda’s enthusiasm for conducting and education blossomed, leading her to pursue a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting with a focus on Music Education at the University of Southern Maine. She has studied with James Fellenbaum, Victor Yampolsky, Robert Lehmann, Harold Farberman, Richard Rosenberg, Gregory Pritchard, Adrian Gnam, and Philip Greenberg.

During her time in Maine, Marshunda led the Odeon Youth Orchestra and guest conducted at numerous music festivals throughout the state. She eventually made her way to the Boston area, where she has become deeply embedded in the North Shoremusic community while maintaining strong ties to musicians in Maine and New Hampshire.

Her commitment to expanding the boundaries of classical music continues to shape her work. Marshunda co-founded the No-Name Orchestra of Boston, which features spontaneous, one-rehearsal performances and cross-generational participation. The orchestra is now in its 10th year and continues to perform multiple times a year across the metro Boston area.

In February 2018, Marshunda made history as the first African American conductor and only the second woman to guest conduct the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra in its 70-year history. That same year, she returned to her hometown of Chattanooga, TN, to perform and release her celebrated program Coquettish Dances.

More recently, Marshunda directed PostPardon: the Opera, a multidisciplinary stage work that explores motherhood and mental health. She is also currently collaborating with Mosaic Lowell and the National Park Service as the Music Director of the Sounds of Labor Project, which commissions local composers to create music based on Lowell’s industrial history. She also joined the Board of Trustees of Merrimack Repertory Theater and continues to champion access to the arts across all ages and backgrounds.

In addition to her work with professional ensembles, Marshunda is the Music Director of Second Congregational Church in Beverly, and a longtime music educator. She taught for many years at the Waldorf School of Beverly and continues to mentor young string players through her private studio. She is known throughout Beverly and the North Shore as a dynamic, community-building artist who brings warmth, humor, and accessibility to classical music.

Whether she’s leading a chamber orchestra, mentoring a student, or dancing on the podium, Marshunda’s love for music and people is evident in every note she brings to life. To see what she’s up to next—or to join one of the communities she’s building—visit marshunda.com.

Email: marshunda@lowellphilharmonic.org