Susan holds an ARCT in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, as well as an ARCT in Elementary Pedagogy, also from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Susan teaches students of all levels out of her home studio in Riverdale, Toronto, and loves to perform at small gatherings in the city. Susan has studied extensively with Canadian composers Michael J. Rudman and Susan Griesdale, as well as studying many years with U of T professor Boyanna Toyich and pianist extraordinaire Furio Massimo Zarafa. Presently, Susan continues her studies in piano performance and pedagogy with Glenn Gould School graduate Arianne Ewing-Chow.
Susan started piano lessons at an early age. Through her teens, she studied with the late concert pianist Marian Grudeff. Marian continues to be a major influence and a huge inspiration in Susan’s life. In the 80’s and 90’s Susan continued to study further with pianists at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts and attended UBC in piano performance studies with Douglas Finch.
Susan has completed all possible levels of Music Theory, Music History and Analysis through the Royal Conservatory Toronto and achieved honors with distinction in most of the nine co-requisite exams that are required for the ARCT diploma. She continues to study Theory and Musicianship with composer Michael J Rudman who is a continuous and deep well of wisdom and musical understanding.
In preparation for her ARCT, Susan studied with Boyanna Toyich, a Professor ay University or Toronto. Alongside private lessons with Boyanna Toyich, for 6 years she attended an outreach program at University of Toronto involving weekly performance masterclasses with Boyanna Toyich and year end recitals in Walter Hall.
In 2009, after a 14 year hiatus in piano playing while raising two children, Susan re-did her Grade 10 Exam studying under Canadian composer Susan Griesdale, and was awarded the ORMTA Ann Scott Mumford Memorial Exam Scholarship Award for achieving the highest marks in the province. Listen to more recordings of Susan Griesdale’s “Piano Poems” on the Performance page 🙂
“After my ARCT Performance Exam in January 2012 – an hour long program of memorized pieces performed in front of two adjudicators – I immediately started learning new repertoire and studying with new teachers to refine even further my technique, expression and understanding of classical music.”
Follow the following links to articles I have written including performances of the following pieces:
Beethoven Sonata Op 7 1st mvmt excerpt
Beethoven Sonata Op 110 complete
SUSAN RICHARDSON PIANO 