ABOUT NANCY LAMKA-SMITH
Nancy Lamka –Smith holds a BS in education from the University of Puget Sound, and graduate hours in music from Portland State University. She is a trained concert pianist, author, speaker, and teacher with a passion for the Lord and worship.
Her piano studies began at age two and a half with Mary Froh, and she also studied with Nellie Thoelen as well as Herbert Renaissance of Lake Oswego. She participated in Oregon federation of music club’s festivals, earning many years of superior rating in piano solo (at the regional level), duo, and duet.
Nancy has composed Sunday school music and curriculums in the United States and Canada, where she and her family were missionaries. She wrote two musicals which were performed in 1979 at Evergreen Christian Center, and at the State Prisons. “A New Song,”and E.A.S.T.E.R. In 1979.
She was chosen “The composer to perform her own song,” “Sunshine” for representing the songwriters convention at Warner Pacific College. She composed the music for scripture tapes at Living Hope School from 1988 to 1992. Her music was used on KPDQ, for the radio program Abide In The Vine in 1976. She composed the theme song “Desert Hart” for the same program in 1996.
Her song “The Lord Shall Reign Forever” has been performed worldwide, as have many others. Her biography is included in Marquis “Who’s Who Of American Women: 1992, 1993, 1994, and has been selected for the addition of Who’s Who Historical Society, 2002-2003. She has also been selected for the 57th addition of Who’s Who. Her song “Most High God” was recently selected and performed at the OGA State level competition.
OVERSEAS TEACHING
Nancy was part of the worship team and accompanied a 125 voice choir at Beaverton Foursquare (1989-1992) where she has been a worship leader in some department since 1987. She has performed her work in Ghana, across Europe, in Nepal, and in Canada.
STEPS TO JOY
In 1984 she formally founded Steps To Joy Music Company. (StepsToJoy.com). Between 1984-94 she wrote a piano pedagogy curriculum of over 450 sacred songs which has birthed a community of skilled musicians and worship leaders.
In 1989 she wrote her first concerto “Of Glory and Splendor,” with the second movement being performed at a local high school Christmas 2000 on piano and violin. From 1999-2000 she completed 2 musicals and three music teaching tapes writing compositions and instrumentals. One of her ballets was performed in the Portland area in different schools. She has done music workshops in Washington and Oregon as well as doing workshops in the Philippines.
A teacher of piano, voice, composition, keyboard, and improvisation, Nancy has an active studio in Portland, Oregon. She has created a program to train students to be pianists in their local churches. She has presented workshops for students called Composers Corner monthly.
She enjoys composing and has written many sacred piano solos, sonatinas, concertos, piano curriculum duets, songs for hand bell choirs, chamber music, and ensembles, as well as compositions for academic areas such as science instruction.
AIRPORT ANGEL, CLARITY OF VISION, & IMPROVISATION
From 2004-2015 Nancy was chosen as one of the pianists at the Portland International Airport. She was nicknamed the “Airport Angel” because of her touch on the keys that released such peace for the passengers waiting and changed the atmosphere.
Stressbgone.com and Awards
While playing at PDX she was also able to sell her eleven piano albums which are also available on Amazon, itunes, CDbaby, and many others.
In 2010 she was selected by Taxi to have four different songs promoted by a Hollywood company.
From 2012-2016 Nancy played at five star hotels in Central America and during her free time taught local worship leaders. It was these students that really encouraged her to get the Platforms of Praise course out to the public. At the end of 2016 she also had a chance to play in Israel, and her piano concerto 8 was completed the same year.
2018 brought the launch of her dream “InspirationalComposer.com” to teach worship improvisation and composing online.
She is presently training worship leaders in worship improvisation and composing and is sharing about what she calls “Prophetic Intercession”. She is passionate about teaching, and has been called a teacher with a “break-through anointing”.
Nancy is married and has two grown sons. She enjoys gardening, hiking, water sports, and creating recipes.
