She took time out of practice and teaching to answer a few questions for us about her upcoming performance.
Why did you pick this piece to perform?
Solos for bassist are not as plentiful as for violinists or pianists, so there are only a couple of concertos in the repertoire that come to mind when playing with an orchestra. One is the Bottesini, and the other is the Koussevitsky. I am more familiar with the Koussevitsky so I chose it for this concert. And it is so much fun to play the double stops in the first movement!
Have you played this piece before?
I have worked on the first movement as the solo piece required for orchestral auditions but have never performed the concerto for an audience. I am looking forward to playing the entire piece and not just the first movement.
Tell us about some of your other favorites.
I’ll tell you a little secret: at heart, I am an orchestral bass player so most of my musical favorites are in the orchestral realm. I really, really enjoy the sound and texture of an orchestra. The melodies, harmonies, and endless combinations of the instruments melding together is music for my soul. However, playing the Bach Cello Suites is another kind of music for my soul. They are so simple yet complicated. The playing has to be so clean and precise, yet musical. I do prefer the suites played on the bass (but don’t tell the cellists that or I will be ostracized by them!).
What are you looking forward to about the performance?
It is relatively rare for a bassist to be a soloist so I am honored to be playing a concerto with the Fox Valley Symphony. This will be a new experience for me. And it is a new experience for our audience, who, I hope, will enjoy the sound of the solo bass.
Susan grew up in Stevens Point, WI and has played the bass
since 9th grade. She attended
Northwestern University to study with Warren Benfield and Joe Guastafeste, both
of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra bass section.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree, she free-lanced in the
Chicago area for many years before moving back to Wisconsin. She is the Principal Bass of the Fox Valley
Symphony, and also plays in the Weidner Philharmonic and the Elgin (IL)
Symphony Orchestras. She has been a
substitute player in many orchestras in the area, including Madison, Sheboygan,
and Manitowoc.
Susan is currently in her 19th year of teaching private bass lessons at the Lawrence Community Music School where she enjoys the chance to work with both children and adults on a one-to-one basis. For many years, Susan has been leading Fox Valley Youth Orchestra bass sectionals and appreciates the opportunity to pass on her orchestral skills to the next generation of musicians.
Helping the FVSO raise funds for the Youth Orchestras, Susan has been the long-time bass coach for the Sinfoniac participants. Once they’ve gotten over the shock of the size of the instrument and have figured out how to get the bass in the car, her section players perform like they were meant to be musicians!
When not playing the bass, Susan enjoys reading, gardening, and testing out new recipes on her FVSO colleagues.
