SUZANNA LARAMEE

AGE 66  I  NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND  I  UNITED STATES
FINANCIAL ADVISOR (RETIRED)

Oklahoman Suzanna Laramee’s early commitment to music led her to earn both undergraduate (Oklahoma City University) and graduate (The University of Kansas) degrees in piano performance. After completing her DMA coursework and serving as an assistant professor at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, she began the professional development program at Merrill Lynch and went on to a 17-year career in the financial industry. Now retired, Suzanna calls spending time with her grandchildren a bit of an obsession, and she’s stayed active in the arts world, as board president for Newport Classical and as an amateur pianist studying with Boston pianist, Michael Lewin. Her many competition appearances include two semifinalist finishes at the Cliburn Amateur, including the first in 1999, which she recalls brought her the warmth, support, and inspiration to “get back to the piano in earnest.” She’s also placed in a number of amateur contests, including in Paris, Boston, Salt Lake City, and Washington, D.C.

Repertoire

Preliminary Round

HANDEL “Air and Variations” from Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430
ALBÉNIZ “Evocación” and “El Puerto” from Iberia, Book I

Semifinal Round 

HAYDN Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI:48
DEBUSSY Étude pour les cinq doigts
CHOPIN Etude in A-flat Major, op. 25, no. 1
LISZT Transcendental Etude No. 11 “Harmonies du soir”

Final Round 

GRIEG Concerto in A Minor, op. 16 (I)