Shannon Smith

My name's Shannon and I'm a wife, mother, musician and worship pastor. I began making music when I picked up my first guitar in college... I couldn't put it down. After quickly jumping into the coffee house scene, I continued to play and grow as a vocalist, guitarist, and pianist.

Jim Croce, James Taylor, and Carol King made up the soundtrack of my early childhood. Classic 70's shifted to The Bangles, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and Guns N Roses as I grew up in the 80's... At 6 years old, I distinctly remember watching my very first music video on MTV, "Walk Like An Egyptian" - I was mesmerized. As a teen in the 90's my focus was Soundgarden, Radiohead, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins. I still listen to all of these bands and more today. Lacey Sturm, Gregory Alan Isakov, Chevelle, and Amanda Lindsay Cook are who you'll most often find me listening to these days.

As I explored different musical genres through the years, I stayed connected to music in the church. I grew up singing hymns like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and "The Old Rugged Cross". In my 20's, when I first began leading worship, music in the church shifted to a more "contemporary" sound. Just as I love and appreciate the classic 70's artists that I grew up on as well as the current bands of today, I also love and appreciate the old and new music and sounds in the church today. I love incorporating the new and the old, classic and modern sounds. Never limiting what worship and songs in the church can be, but leaving space to learn, grow, be still, and breathe. I have been a worship leader now for over 20 years and I am currently worship pastor at the church I attend with my family in Towson, Maryland.

"I am trusting and suspicious. I am honest and I still play games. Aristotle said I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel with an incredible capacity for beer.” 

- Brennan Manning