Photo credit: Mike Canale
Monday, November 21, 2022
12 PM
The daughter of a talented pianist/painter, Susan first heard strains of classical piano music before she was even born. Inheriting her mother's artistic sensibilities and her father's mathematical mind and enormous hands, playing the piano came very naturally, but it was her passion, hard work, and dedication to music that contributed to her prodigious ability. First lessons with her Mother by age two and formal lessons started at age six. By age seven, Susan knew she wanted to be a pianist and a composer. Quoting from her hand-penned diary at the time: "I always want to be a famous pianist and a composer". She has never wavered from her commitment to being a concert pianist, but has always focused more on being the best musician she can be, even if not necessarily "famous."
Winning many prizes as a youth, Susan went on to study at Yale University, the Manhattan School of Music and the Fontainebleau School of Music in France with some of the most famous concert pianists and pedagogues in the USA and Europe. After garnering more prizes in her twenties, she made her debut in Carnegie Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and throughout Europe, receiving unanimous acclaim from prestigious newspapers. She has pursued her performing and teaching career, serving as a true source of inspiration to her students and fans, while also raising a family of three prize-winning young musicians, who have now also distinguished themselves on the national and international scene as performers and composers.
Whether appearing before an intimate audience of 100 or a crowd of 1000, Susan delivers rhapsodic, edge-of-your-seat electrifying and magical performances that will captivate you, steal your heart and soothe your soul.
Free concerts at noon every Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour.
The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.
Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.