About Julianna Smay
Julianna Smay is a violinist and strings teacher based in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. She was a member of the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra for seven semesters and served as a section member in both first and second violins, as principal second violin, and as concertmaster. In May 2024, she performed as a featured soloist with the Charles Washington Symphony Orchestra. She has studied at chamber music festivals in Emmitsburg, Maryland and in Morgantown, West Virginia. In October 2024, Julianna was privileged to participate in the Violins of Hope project, performing on Holocaust era violins for
multiple presentations and concerts.
Julianna has taught violin and viola lessons in the Morgantown and Moundsville areas of West Virginia, both as a substitute private teacher and a student teacher. She currently teaches private strings and piano lessons and middle school general music at St. Joseph School in Martinsburg, WV. During the summer months, she serves as the upper woodwinds instructor for
the Washington High School Marching Band.
Julianna is a well-rounded musician with a diverse background of styles. She has played fiddle, blues, and jazz violin from a young age. She also spent a summer as the bass guitarist of DAISED, a rock band located in Charles Town, WV. In addition to orchestra and chamber music at WVU, she participated in the Steel Bands, Fife and Drum Corps, and community and church
choirs.
Julianna graduated from WVU in 2025 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She holds a West Virginia teaching certificate in Music Prek-adult. Her principal teachers include Mary Grace Johnson, Sunmi Chang, and Mikylah Myers.
