Biography
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To read Susie’s debut album bio click here.
Susie was born in New Zealand, and grew up in the beautiful nature of the Coromandel Peninsula and later in West Auckland. She has been surrounded by music and singing all her life and because of her father's work, harmony filtered into her understanding very gracefully. |
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I remember at a young age learning the bass or alto parts to some favourite African songs or Christmas carols and enjoying the challenge of holding my voice against other melodies.
At the age of 9, her family (parents and older brother and sister) moved to England where she continued her inspiring and creative Steiner Education, first in Wales, then Ringwood in Dorset and finally Forest Row in East Sussex.
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Throughout those years and up to the present day, the Unicorn Natural Voice Camp has played a huge part in her life, first being there as a child, absorbing sound and playing freely in a community environment, then as a tweenie and then a naughty teenager!
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She was 18 when she became a voice teacher at the camp, leading 60 or more teenagers they became renowned for their energetic, tight and complex performances. This is the last performance she did with the Teens in 2010.
It’s based on 'This is My Prayer for Peace, a song by Nick Prater but as you can hear, it was taken in wild and wonderful directions. All of what you hear (apart from the original arrangement beginning and ending) was created as a collaboration during the week of the Camp and it received one of the longest standing ovations the camp has seen.
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Along with leading groups in harmony Susie also followed her passion for singing and songwriting. As well as her solo work, Susie Ro & Ayla started singing together as a soulful folk duo in 2008 (when they were both 21) and their debut album 'She and I' and countless tours blossomed out of a very close friendship. Although the duo is no longer active, they are still the closest of friends and have recently been recording harmonies on each others debut solo albums.
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Susie also spent time singing with Avalon Roots, a soulful reggae band made up of a wonderful group of friends singing together to celebrate the common human unity on this earth. She performed on their debut album 'Creation'.
Between 2012 and 2016 Susie had the pleasure of being Music Director of the 100 strong Shakti Sing Choir, who sing to hounour the earth. Along with monthly rehearsals they performed annually at Glastonbury Festival, Stonehenge's Solstice celebrations, anti fracking demonstrations and various performances and concerts in London.
Between 2012 and 2016 Susie had the pleasure of being Music Director of the 100 strong Shakti Sing Choir, who sing to hounour the earth. Along with monthly rehearsals they performed annually at Glastonbury Festival, Stonehenge's Solstice celebrations, anti fracking demonstrations and various performances and concerts in London.
What a honour it was to work with this Choir. Singing at the opening ceremony of Glastonbury Festival and throughout the week for 4 years running, joining in the Summer and Winter Solstices at Stonehenge and performing around London have been amazing, not to be forgotten experiences!
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Since starting all those years ago at Voice Camp, Susie has gone on to establish herself as a renowned workshop leader, vocal coach, teacher trainer, ceremonial musician and the proud producer of her first professional solo album. Along with day workshops Susie runs weekend residential courses in improvisation and song co-creation, teacher training courses for aspiring voice workshop leaders, week long ‘SongShine’ intensive singing retreats abroad, as well as being an internationally gigging musician.
So far Susie has taken her work to Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Portugal, Canada, Austria, Hawaii and Costa Rica and she has tours awaiting her in many new locations in 2019/2020.
After 4 years dedicated to her passion of bringing people together in harmony, two years ago Susie returned to her beloved guitar. Inspired by the journey of making her debut solo album 'Song of a Thousand Leaves,' which captures songs from the last decade, Susie has begun writing again in full force and finding a deeper heart felt connection to the spirit of her personal music. Since beginning the recording of her debut album she has already written enough material to record a second one, watch this space!
So far Susie has taken her work to Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Portugal, Canada, Austria, Hawaii and Costa Rica and she has tours awaiting her in many new locations in 2019/2020.
After 4 years dedicated to her passion of bringing people together in harmony, two years ago Susie returned to her beloved guitar. Inspired by the journey of making her debut solo album 'Song of a Thousand Leaves,' which captures songs from the last decade, Susie has begun writing again in full force and finding a deeper heart felt connection to the spirit of her personal music. Since beginning the recording of her debut album she has already written enough material to record a second one, watch this space!