Joyll Smith (Joy) holds a Bachelor of Music Degree In Vocal Performance from the University of Rhode Island. Her love of music began at 9 years old when sh was blessed with a gift of a baby grand piano for Christmas!  Self taught at first, she played every chance she could learning favorite melodies by ear.  Once in high school, she joined her schools music and drama departments and learned music theory ultimately deciding on music as her career path. While enrolled inthe University of Rhode Island, she first concentrated her studies in Music Education learning extremely valuable instrumental skills focusing primarily on piano, but also strings, brass, woodwind, and several percussion instruments. She taught General Music to Grades PreK-8 at St. Ann and St. Mary‘s School in Providence Rhode Island and has been teaching both private and group voice and piano lessons and vocal coaching for over 20 years. Along with teaching music, she discovered a love for early childhood education and also received an Early Childhood Education Certification working as a Teacher and Administrator/Education Coordinator for 15 years.

Joy has trained extensively in Opera & Classical Vocal studies, but enjoys teaching all styles of vocals including Pop, Rock, Country, Broadway and Jazz.  Joy has been a voice and piano faculty at The University of Rhode Island, Act III Performing Arts School in Orlando FL, Franklin School for The Performing Arts in Franklin Massachusetts, Southeastern Connecticut School of The Performing Arts in Niantic Connecticut, and the RI Philharmonic Music School.  Most recently Joy sat as Head Voice Faculty, Piano faculty and Director of Musical Theater programs at The United Music School where she created and directed several music theater workshops and camps. Her students have gone on to place in regional All State competitions, festivals and landed leading roles in their school and community productions as well as winning scholarships and talent competitions throughout New England.

Joy’s past performance experiences include Soprano Section Leader/Cantor/Soloist at various local churches and many opera and oratorio works throughout the New England Community working with Bristol Community Chorus, Temple Sinai Choir, University of Rhode Island Chorus and Fall River Symphony Orchestra to name a few. She has also worked with Opera Providence as both a main stage performer and an Artist Educator for their Opera Outreach Program. Joy was also an active performer in leading and supporting roles with several  local theater productions throughout her community. Most recently she performed with the Academy Players of RI in Providence and The Granite Theatre in Westerly RI, where both productions (The Heights & The Drowsy Chaperone) were nominated for several “Best of Broadway Rhode Island” Awards. Favorite roles include, Abuela in In The Heights, Pamina in The Magic Flute and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.

Joy has taught students as young as 4 years old through age 86 and her teaching goals and philosophy are based on fostering a love of singing and/or playing in all students. She is thrilled to be joining the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota communities and looking

forward to working with new students on their musical journey.