Shirley Simpson-Wray 

Beginning at the age of 8 years old and after receiving 15 years of private instruction on the piano and organ, Ms. Simpson-Wray began playing for her church at the age of 12 years old. For the past 40+ years, Ms. Simpson-Wray has performed sacred and liturgical music on the piano and/or organ continuously both as a permanent or substitute musician and/or choir director for churches of all faiths in the states of Florida and Massachusetts.   As a government contractor, she recently functioned as a Music Director for the local Veterans Administration Chapel, and spent over 20 years in service as a choir & liturgical organist at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Riviera Beach, FL. A classically trained pianist, her repertoire includes many types of music, including light classics, show tunes, oldies, and inspirational music such as spirituals and gospel music.   She has performed music therapy in nursing homes, and has played seasonal music during the holidays for the City of West Palm Beach Choir and its many performances.  

Great Music! LLC is the firm Ms. Wray formed to provide various types of musical talent to organizations in need. To date, she has developed artists for musical concerts, provided instrumentalists for holiday events, performed musical services for weddings, and performed accompanist services in a variety of venues. Ms. Wray has spawned several talents by way of teaching piano and sight reading to children in her School of Pianoforte, and is currently developing programs to teach adults to read music and play piano as well. 

Ms. Simpson-Wray is formally trained in City Planning/Community Development and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts—Boston and a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). However, music is her avocation and her love; she is not only a trained sight reader but plays by ear as well.