Marshunda Smith, Music Director and Conductor

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 Orchestra and 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 Shore music 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