Lauren Smee

Violinist Lauren Smee has a love of playing that fuels her teaching and a love of teaching that informs her performance.

As a member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Lauren has enjoyed the opportunity to work with artists such as Andre LaPlante and Mark Fewer. She regularly plays in the Opera on the Avalon orchestra and the Watershed Ensemble. Together with fellow violinist Carole Bestvater, Lauren co-founded the Isabella Project, an initiative that celebrates and creates space for the music of composers that deserve to be heard more in the classical music world.

Whether on stage or in the studio, Lauren is passionate about preventing playing-related injury. As a Body Mapping Educator, she educates musicians on how accurate information about the body in movement can enhance both music pedagogy and musical ability.

Lauren enjoys teaching with the Suzuki Talent Education Program of St. John’s, where she served as Artistic Director from 2014 - 2016. She has been on faculty at the Newfoundland and Labrador Suzuki Institute, and in 2017-2018 was the Project Coordinator of Memorial University’s Chamber Music for Youth program.

Lauren holds degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University (Honours B.Mus) and Memorial University of Newfoundland (M.Mus in Violin Performance/Pedagogy) and is grateful to her principal teachers, Dr. Nancy Dahn, Jennifer Johnson, Jerzy Kaplanek, and May Ing.