Suzanne Polak is a versatile artist, working in diverse areas of music. She received both a Masters in Composition and Theory and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from Duquesne University. She remains on the University Accompanying Staff, and also accompanies for musical theatre at Point Park University. Suzanne is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at CAPA, the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
In addition to being the primary piano lab instructor, she has accompanied her students at various competitions, including the Pittsburgh Concert Society's Young Artists Competition. She has also appeared twice as a concerto soloist for the CAPA Symphony Orchestra.
Suzanne has acted with both Carlow College and the Summer Company, and she has also appeared in and/or directed numerous musicals at Carlow College and Duquesne University Red Masquers and Spotlight.
As a composer, Suzanne has fulfilled numerous music commissions, including pieces for members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, D.U. Red Masquers, D.U. Medieval and Renaissance Players, Carlow College, and fellow D.U. alums. Her compositions have been featured in many solo events, solo recitals, theatre productions, and at the International Conference of the Double Reed Society. Recently, she collaborated on Homeless: the Musical, which received two local performance runs. Her score is heard during the DVD-recorded performance of The Tragedy of Jane Shore. In addition, The Beggar’s Opera was given mention for “Best Scores of 2001” in both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the City Paper. Suzanne also just released her first all original CD entitled Unguarded Moments, which is available through her website, www.suzanneupolak.com.
