About Jacqueline Smedley
Jacqueline (Jackie) Smedley began studying piano and violin at the age of 2 and began studying classical and theatrical voice in the years following. As a child, she performed in numerous violin ensembles and piano competitions with the Music Teacher's Association of Southern Maryland. In school, she accompanied choirs, played first chair violin in her chamber group, and performed around southern Maryland. In her years of violin study, she completed all of the Suzuki books and studied a wide range of repertoire. In high school she earned the prestigious Maryland State Music Teachers Association Keyboard Musicianship Award, and placed second highest in the state in the MTASM Music Theory Test. She began teaching piano and violin in 2010 and has been teaching ever since.
Jackie earned a B.A. in Piano Performance, B.A. in Vocal Performance, and B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. During her time at UMBC, she studied under Dr. Audrey Andrist and Dr. Daniel Pesca for piano, and under Janice Jackson for voice. Through her college career she developed a love of chamber music and participated in UMBC Chamber Players as well as in collaborative piano roles. In addition, Jackie held many lead roles in UMBC Opera Workshop productions. Notable roles include Susanna in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Musetta in Puccini's La bohème. As a double music major, Jackie gave 4 solo recitals in piano and voice, including piano repertoire such as Chopin Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Liszt's Un Sospiro, Mozart Sonata in B-flat k. 333, and a world premiere of a student-composed work. When not making music, Jackie works as a Computer Engineer contracting for NASA Goddard, practices yoga, and explores nature.
As a teacher, she combines her technical engineering skills with her musical expertise to provide a well-rounded and fulfilling curriculum. She hopes to encourage her students to pursue their passions and do what brings them joy, as well as inspire a lifelong love of music.
