From Sydney, NSW Suzanne (Suzy) Turner has been part of the Launceston, TAS arts community for more than 30 years.  Beginning as a student, then teacher in the 1980’s  with St Cecilia School of Music (violin) and also the University of Tasmania Community Music Program (clarinet) while studying for Bachelor of Education (Primary and Music K-12)  Degree at the then named Tasmanian State Institute of  Technology (TSIT).

A classical violin player who also plays clarinet and Greenwood leather instruments.  Improvsiation skills were acquired as a necessity - being the proud owner and caretaker of the Greenwood Bass Bowhorn required collaboration with other Launceston artists including Garry Greenwood and Dr Karlin Love to create music for these extraordinary  playable art works  with unconventional tuning systems.  As a member of the Tasmanian Leather Orchestra, these have featured in Junction Arts Festivals, “Tannery (Skin Migration)”  MONA FOMA 2018 and many private events.

Suzanne’s  early career was deeply focused on working as a primary music educator initially with Tasmanian Department of Education, then Scotch Oakburn College and Launceston Grammar School. The past 10 years have seen a gradual return to a more creative life, making time to rehearse and perform with community ensembles - Launceston Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Obscura Chamber ensemble - and engage in many projects and collaborations with other artists.

Recent projects (2021 /2022/2023) included:

mulaka milaythina - The Hunting Ground - World premiere performance and recording at Clarence Jazz Festival February 2023 of a newly commissioned work for chamber jazz ensemble and narrator by Louise Denson and Nunami Sculthorpe-Green.

https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/mulaka-milaythina-the-hunting-ground

Collaborative Performance activation, facilitated by composer and artist Isha Ram Das, of “Untitled (Death Song)”  Megan Cope installation at MONA FOMA 2022.

Founding member of LIMA - Launceston Improvised Music Association.

Performances at The World’s Smallest Improvised Music festival (2021, 2022), and  regular Free for All First set performances and facilitation at LIMA Sawtooth ARI weekly Sunday sessions. 

Instrumentalist for Interweave Arts Organisation “Remade Parade”  (clarinet)  Regular parades for Junction Arts Festival and community events. 

Backing strings for Spike Mason’s jazz album recording project “Triune”. https://spikemason.bandcamp.com/album/triune

Live at the Library - a music program initiated by Friends of the Library Launceston - performances with duet partner Phil Pitcher (a saxophone and violin ensemble Duo con Occhiali). 

Performances with “Bits of String” Quartet at Loira Vineyard (Farmgate Festival 2021), St Giles Niche Market, and community events. 

Tasmanian Tourism Campaign 2021, 2022, 2023 - The Off Season. (Greenwood Leather Bowhorn at Kelvedon Beach) 

Flow - with co-collaborator Spike Mason a Workshop and participatory performance in response to the video work of artist Joanne Faulkner and other Flow exhibition artists at Sawtooth ARI. Flow exhibition presented by Huon Valley Council in conjunction with City of Launceston Council.

”Live Art Live Music”. Performance with Dr Karlin Love, alongside painter Sally Ryan at QVMAG Archie 100 touring  exhibition. 

Performance and recordings (acoustic string quintet and electric violin duet version with Emily Sanzaro)  of new work by Dr Karlin Love “String Theory” commissioned by David Morris, inspired by the book “Everything is Now”  Bill Spence. 

https://soundcloud.com/karlinlove/branes

Recording Project with Ian Chia - Stray Luxury Album