Suzanne Herman has demonstrated a brilliant gift for piano music and composition since she was a teenager. Classified as a professional musician by the age of 14, her decades of experience truly inspire. Lifeline, her debut album and songbook released in 2018, was composed in honor of her brother, Raymond, who died suddenly in 2014; the works reflect Suzanne’s process of coping with grief and overcoming loss. Today, she is a composer, performer, solo piano recording artist, and educator.
Living on Florida’s west coast and while studying with Master Teacher Gray Perry as a young teenager, Suzanne’s passion for music was ignited early. Her natural talent led her to earn a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She continued to develop her expertise by achieving her Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University.
Suzanne went on to perform extensively throughout the United States and played a variety of genres and styles, including classical, sacred, jazz, and contemporary solo piano. She also served as the Director of Music and as an organist at numerous churches.
She released her second album and songbook, Horizons, in 2018 to remind her listeners of the wonderment that new experiences can add to our lives. For aspiring young students, her third release, Cheerful Explorations, highlights pianistic learning to develop a life-long appreciation for music. The piano stylings in Cascades of Time, Suzanne’s subsequent release after her travels through the mountains of Wyoming, portray the fleeting nature of both joyful moments and challenging times.
“Music evokes and creates emotions. It calms, excites, and helps us push through. Music celebrates our joys and triumphs; it helps us during our greatest sadness and grief. Music inspires and heals.”
Suzanne’s works have since been accepted into the exclusive Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, featuring contemporary New Age solo pianists and artists. In 2021, she composed and released her innovative collection, Stories from Portugal. After exploring the country’s rich traditions, welcoming people, and striking natural beauty, the album and songbook have been recognized by critics as a “collection of stories delivered in solo piano narrative…. A tapestry story book, journeying through Portugal, enjoying the stories told along the way.”
Path of the Sandpiper is a single release, and was nominated “Best 2022 Solo Piano Single” by One World Music Radio. The powdery white sand and iconic sunsets of Florida’s west coast beaches provide a perfect setting for sandpipers. This piece was inspired by these little birds gently scurrying and moving together along the water’s edge. Kathy Parsons, from Mainly Piano, describes Path of the Sandpiper as “warm and gentle, with a subtle energy that propels it. This sweet piece is a real day brightener and mood elevator!” See Kathy’s full review here. Steve Sheppard, of One World Music Radio, writes,”…this performance by Suzanne Herman is fluent, stunningly graceful, and charming.” See Steve’s full review here.
Another single release in 2022 was Dancing Lights. At night, when the sky becomes dark, a fascinating scene can be experienced. From the northern point of Anna Maria Island, on Florida’s beautiful west coast, colorful lights glisten across Tampa Bay. It is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, sparkling on the water with different light colors and patterns every night. The brilliant, changing display of shimmering lights truly appear to dance on the water! It is mesmerizing! Hence, the insight behind Dancing Lights. Critics describe Dancing Lights as “glistening, radiant, and packed with abundant energy that flows like musical bliss.” See full review here. Kathy Parsons, of Mainly Piano writes, “Bright and expressive… hypnotic and captivating.” See Kathy’s full review here.
Sailing to a Sunset is a 2023 single release. The west coast of Florida has iconic sunsets. Suzanne’s favorite local beach is Anna Maria Island, especially the northern most point. It’s where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. No two sunsets are ever alike; each one is different and unique. Experiencing a sunset is saying good-bye to yet another day. Whether you walk the beach or are sailing to the horizon, people never get tired of watching a sunset. Kathy Parsons from Mainly Piano calls Sailing to a Sunset “Relaxed and dreamy with a colorful sparkle, it’s an exceptional piece of music.” See the full review here. Reviewer Steve Sheppard writes, “Her presentation is a moving opus of piano brilliance. She paints the sunset, she manifests tones that show the gentle moment of the sun, and the changing textures of the sky. Her manifestation brings that all together in a melodic and incredibly emotional arrangement. This is descriptive piano music at its very best; this is most certainly one you really should not miss at all costs.” See the full review here.
A Seaside View was released in 2023. Nominated for “Best album November 2023” on One World Music Radio. Steve Sheppard of One World Music Radio writes, “Suzanne Herman manifests for us a musical art gallery of sublime solo piano tones, melodies and segments of blissful reveries.” See full review here. This album is a collection of original solo piano music inspired by the west coast of Florida. The spectacular panorama of vast beaches, powdery white sand, amazing sunsets, coastal wildlife, and changing moods are all included in the music from A Seaside View.
Suzanne’s most recent release is “It Mattered” . Kathy Parsons of Mainly Piano, writes”…This piece is a sincere cry from Suzanne’s heart… a dramatic expression of her personal, raw emotions.”
Aside from independently releasing original piano music to Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and YouTube, Suzanne is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as a metastatic cancer survivor since 2012. She cherishes the love and support of her husband Jeff, her dynamic daughters Laura and Emily, and her grandson, Liam.
