Stephanie Skipper moved to Nashville in 2006 to sign a record deal with TobyMac’s label, Gotee Records. After releasing three projects with the label and touring extensively for five years (Winter Wonderslam, 2009, and Winter Jam, 2009, Acquire The Fire, 2010), she married her label mate (Tim Skipper of House of Heroes) in 2013 and together they began an independent singer/songwriter duo, Copperlily, in 2014. Recently, she appeared on Season 14 of NBC’s The Voice as a contestant on Team Adam.

Stephanie loves working with all types of students, but she has a special love for those who are a bit shy – “I get excited about finding and using my own voice. I grew up shy and scared to speak up, so it has been a life-long journey for me to believe that I have something to say/sing/write and then offer it to the world.”

Stephanie’s Teaching Philosophy: “Everybody has something to contribute creatively because they bear a unique spark of the divine. None other has ever had it or will ever have it. It can be hard to believe that, and often being afraid we have nothing to offer prevents us from ever trying. My philosophy is to encourage and speak into.”

Where do you look for creative inspiration?
“Nature, color, texture, water, good conversations, thought provoking podcasts, music I love”

Any funny/embarrassing stories you have to share that has happened in your profession?
“I fell flat on my bum on stage at a WinterJam after party, in front of 250 people. I have forgotten my own lyrics. I’ve hit my mouth so hard on the mic that my lip bleeds. I’ve smeared red lipstick all over my face with the microphone, leaving me unknowingly resembling the joker… until my bass player told me in front of the whole festival audience.”

What’s your favorite local spot to spend time at when you’re not working & what do you do there?
“I love to sit at 8th and Roast coffee on Charlotte Pike and write my blog or read. I also love to hike with my dog, Riggins, at Radnor Lake or Percy Warner!”

What type of music did you grow up listening to?
“I grew up listening to Motown, Whitney, Mariah, Jackson 5 and thats how I fell in love with singing. In high school I was obsessed with dcTalk and MXPX and then in college discovered the Emo/Punk scene and was fully committed. I’d say today I am a hodgepodge of all those things!”

If you could meet one author, performer who would it be and what would you ask them?
“Author: Richard Rhor, can I please have some of your wisdom?
Performer: WHITNEY HOUSTON (RIP). TEACH ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW”

What is your favorite quote?
“You can’t think yourself into a new way of living, but you can live your way into a new way of thinking”