After attending a concert and becoming inspired by the musicians’ performances, Sandra Rector Smith desired to enter the field of music education. She began playing piano at the age of 5, and by the time she was in third grade, she played piano at her local church. Throughout high school, she notably taught piano to over 30 students whose music teachers had departed from their roles. Attending Radford University (formerly known as Radford College), Ms. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Master of Arts in 1972.
Ms. Smith joined the faculty of Floyd County Elementary School in Floyd, Virginia, in 1971, where she remains today as a choral teacher. Concurrent to this pursuit, she has also been a choral director for Floyd County High School since 1972. Throughout her lengthy career, she has also excelled as the co-director of the Floyd Community Choir and Chorus since 1993 and has been a choir director and organist for her local Presbyterian Church since 1971. Likewise, she has flourished as the president of the Virginia Blue Ridge Music Festival since 2017. Civically involved as well, Ms. Smith has been active with the Floyd County Woman’s Club since 1973.
Attributing her success to her passion for music, as well as her affinity for individuals and especially children, Ms. Smith credits the influence of her administrators as factors in her resounding career. A member of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, the American Guild of Organists and the National Association for Music Educators, she also maintained membership with the American Choral Director Association. As a testament to her success, she was profiled in the 25th edition of Who’s Who of American Women in 2005.
Looking toward the future, Ms. Smith intends to continue working and remaining healthy for as long as she is able to do so.
