As a solo artist, Susan has enjoyed sharing the hammered dulcimer through performing, composing, recording, and teaching for more than 20 years.
The daughter of a mandolin player with a rich family history in traditional music, Susan’s childhood was often filled with the melodies of Tennessee Waltz and Red River Valley. Frequent family gatherings always included plenty of Carter-style singing and instilled in her a deep connection to the old hymns, traditional songs, and nuances of old time harmonies.
Susan's own musical journey began in 1995 while visiting an arts festival in the mountains of North Carolina where she heard the beautiful, mysterious sounds emanating from a hammered dulcimer. Little did she know this chance encounter would transform her from casual music lover to hammered dulcimer performer, teacher, recording artist, and event creator.
Since discovering the hammered dulcimer, Susan has taught and performed at numerous music camps and festivals including two years at the Cork Dulcimer Festival in Cork City, Ireland, The Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville NC, Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering in Binghamton NY, and many others. She has served as a competition judge for Fiddler’s Grove Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention, and The Colgate Country Showdown and Texaco Country Showdown talent search programs. Susan has also published instructional articles for the hammered dulcimer on Mel Bay's webzine, DulcimerSessions.com.
Well respected in her local arts community, Susan was acknowledged by the South Carolina Arts Commission as a Folk Art and Traditional Artist and has served on the North Carolina Arts and Science Council Talent Bureau. She is also a two-time recipient of a Regional Artist Grant from the North Carolina Arts and Science Council, a former member of the Charlotte Folk Society Board of Directors, and founder/director of Yorkville Music Weekend.
With her third recording, A New Way Home, Susan makes her debut as a singer/songwriter and is joined by James Leva, Jon Singleton, Wes Chappell, and others.