Somewhere along the way to becoming a concert pianist, Stephanie Smith fell in love with singers and discovered her passion for promoting composers and new compositions. After several decades of touring, conducting and producing, she is thrilled to live in Oregon full-time and embrace her love of teaching. Stephanie promotes a life of balance that includes the arts, self-care, and stress reduction.
Born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (1998) from University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Music in Chamber Music Performance (2001) from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
As a full-time musician, she has enjoyed a wide array of music roles and experiences. Stephanie was lounge pianist at the 5-Star Adams Mark Hotel in Denver for one year between degrees. This is where she learned to converse while playing piano and even entertained the late Sir Roger Moore by playing his requested song, “Seventy Six Trombones”!
In the Bay Area, she served as Artistic Director for the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, commissioning “Halloween in the Castro: A Horror Opera” by Jack Curtis Dubowsky and the musical “Group Therapy” by June Bonacich. She has accompanied luminaries such as Alan Cumming, B.D. Wong, Sharon McNight, and got to play “Happy Birthday” and “San Francisco” for Dame Edna’s private birthday party in the home of Amy Tan. Too much fun! Stephanie toured with Bugs Bunny at the Symphony as pianist/slide guitarist, performing with the New York Philharmonic in Avery Fisher Hall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Stephanie has extensive experience in worship leadership and was Cantor and Worship Designer for the Sunday at 6pm service on the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral.
For the last 10 years, she has been touring with Broadway veteran Franc D’Ambrosio (The Godfather III/Phantom of the Opera) and had the privilege of witnessing and playing for the ceremony knighting him “Cavaliere” by the Italian government.
Stephanie aka “Miss Smith” loves to encourage and support local, living composers and has produced “The Music of Paul James Frantz,” “The Journey So Far: Music of Jeff Becker,” and “My Magically Talented Friends” showcase of composers in the Miss Smith studios.
This exciting and fast-paced career has been a total delight and Stephanie’s delight now is being home in her kitchen with a house full of dogs. Working at Resound NW with such a gifted staff is a dream come true for her. She hopes to help as many people as possible find their way (or way back!) to music, the arts, and a life of balance.