Susie Maddocks
Hydrangea
from Flower Catalog
Program notes.
When Susie told me about her deep love for hydrangeas and their importance in her family, I knew we had something really special on our hands. Hydrangea tells a little bit about the transparent and beautiful way Susie lives her life, and attempts to capture the gorgeous, pale, dark shades of color that these flowers are often found in and the gravitas they carry with them in meaning for both Susie and myself.
In Susie’s words.
“Thinking of my ancestors, particularly my Popo (Grandmother) who was essentially royalty in China before the depression and moved to Seattle after an arranged marriage during the depression. She learned how to be grateful with little and how to start over a whole new life style. She poured herself into her community, with her regular restaurant customers referring to her as “Mom”. Dorothy Chun (my Popo) was included among several of the first Chinese ancestors to settle in Seattle.
I think of my own parents and how I have learned what it is to be grateful with what we are given, and to always strive for excellence in all that I do, giving God nothing short of my heart and soul.
When I think of the characteristics of a hydrangea, I immediately recall gorgeous, romantic palettes, stunning and showstopping beauty for the garden, and heart-felt emotion for the appreciative gazer. With its asian influence, I am even more deeply moved by the allure of its form and function. It thrills me to think of the broad spectrum of colors Stephanie can compose with this dual imagery of hydrangea and reminiscence of one’s past.”
“I think of the fragrance of a hydrangea, how it captivates my senses effortlessly and transports me to a beautiful dream-like scene ”
- Susie Maddocks
About.
Flower Catalog is a book of twelve preludes for piano, inspired by Debussy’s Preludes in terms of scope and structure. The idea for this project started with a short work, Lilac, commissioned by Jenny Lin in 2018. The other eleven preludes have been commissioned by other piano soloists, each about her own favorite flower, and are all between 2.5-5 minutes in length so that the entire collection can live and breath as a full concert set but each prelude can also be utilized as a uniquely personal encore.
Flower Catalog is a commission by Lise de la Salle, Marianne Parker, Diane Katzenberg Braun, Eunbi Kim, Holly Roadfeldt, Adrienne Park, Susie Maddocks, Sarah Bob, Marta Aznavoorian, Jenny Lin, and Lucille Chung.
About Susie.
Pianist Susie Maddocks has traveled a rich and diverse path as a collaborator, soloist, band member and songwriter. She has had the privilege of working with brilliant piano artists such as Menahem Pressler, Nelita True, Stephen Pierce, Jerry Wong, and James Barbagallo. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where she completed her degree in piano performance, Susie studied under the tutelage of Anton Nel, Jeffrey Kahane, David Burge and Lucille Straub. She has received many Southern California Piano Guild awards, being immersed in the California world of music with Bach Festivals and Southwestern Youth Music Festivals. The fourth child in a musical family, Susie quickly took to the piano as her “voice” while her 3 siblings perfected the violin and cello. This made for a wonderful life of music-making, as Susie pursued ways to collaborate in any and every kind of forum.
Since 1999, Susie has worked as a collaborative pianist in Northern Colorado with many renowned artists, including Jim Walker, Carol Wincenc, Conor Nelson, Philip Dikeman, Christina Webster, Nicole Esposito, Erin Murphy, Timothy Hagen, Krzystof Kaczka, Catherine Ransom Karoly, Kerry DuWors, Stephanie Ann Boyd, Jennifer Koh, Robert Maine, Kathy Winkler and Tim Pitts.
Throughout her life, Susie discovered the wonder of making music with others, whether it be with a fellow pianist, violinist or flutist. Performing with her past duo partners, violinist James Anderson, pianist Judy Lin, and international soloist Dr. Jerry Wong, Ms. Maddocks quickly developed her passion for creating that spark that only comes with a partner. Susie has immensely enjoyed her musical journey with flutist James Hall as Duo970, and looks forward to many more seasons of artistry and enthusiasm.
Susie plays Brahms
Susie Maddocks, Piano ∙ Victor Walters, Accompanist
