Performer

OCCASIONS  ·  STYLES  ·  CLIENTS  ·  VENUES  ·  AUDIO SAMPLES

"Wonderful job. You are so talented … it was just perfect! We are very thankful for all the many blessings of the wedding, including you… It was a joy meeting you and working together." ~Kathi M
"We’d heard all the songs before, but never so wonderfully done. We guessed at titles, reminisced, sang-along and danced-along. Susan sparkled." ~Tom D
"Thanks again for last night. You added a dimension to the party that was truly wonderful. F. was talking today about the “choir gals” circled around the piano last night in song. You created a truly memorable evening." ~Eva M
"Thank you again for adding your beautiful music to our rehearsal dinner last Friday evening. You are so talented and provided just the right background during cocktails and dinner at The Farm. You also played all my favorite tunes!" ~Patty Y
"She is the first choice … I would hire for free-lance work because she plays so many styles, including classical." ~Martha B, Cellist, & Composer
"Susan Clearman is a delight to work with–punctual, creative and responsive to the promoter as well as the audience." ~Kay W, Supervisor, Cultural Arts, Gwinnett County
WeddOEI051212-200x300
Susan Clearman is equally at home as featured soloist, accompanist, creating a subtle musical ambiance for an event, or collaborating with other musicians. Ms. Clearman’s solo piano work ranges from Classical styles to Yiruma, from Ragtime and 1940s Big Band tunes to Star Wars themes, and from Gershwin and Porter classics to Les Mis.
Celtic Service, Iona Abbey, Scotland. The acoustics were phenomenal!
Celtic Service, Iona Abbey, Scotland. The acoustics were phenomenal!<br />


She transfers many of these same selections to the accordion with ease. Besides the European polkas and waltzes commonly identified with the accordion, she has built a repertoire that also spans Celtic, Klezmer, Tango, American Folk and Scandinavian music, and even Beatles, Swing, Latin and Jazz standards. Susan also maintains a pool of talented colleagues who perform in various combinations, customized for the occasion, as detailed on this site's Bands page.

Ms. Clearman has a wealth of collaborative experience as accompanist in concerts, churches, and musical theater productions. She was pianist for Yiddish Theatre icon Bernard Mendelovitch, operatic mezzo soprano Stephanie McGuire in New York City, the American Repertory Theatre's singing classes' recitals at Harvard, and Pace Academy shows such as Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady, and Into the Woods in Atlanta.
One of Susan’s old ‘friends’—the pipe and digital organ at the Highlands United Methodist Church, Highlands, NC.
One of Susan’s old friends, the pipe and digital organ at the Highlands United Methodist Church, Highlands, NC<br />

Choir directors from churches where she has been on staff such as St. Patrick's Episcopal, Dunwoody, Highlands United Methodist [NC], and Briarcliff United Methodist, Atlanta, have high praise for Susan's accompanying artistry. Susan was also featured accordionist for the Atlanta Ballet's Return Trip Tango in Atlanta and New York. Her orchestral work includes playing piano for George Burns and Red Skelton at Atlanta's Fox Theater, and the Alliance Theater's Peter Pan, accordion for the Alliance Theater's Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof productions, synthesizer for Chastain Park's presentation of the Moody Blues and Theater of the Stars' Miss Saigon.  

 
French accordion music at trade show hospitality suite: America's Mart.
French accordion music at trade show hospitality suite: America's Mart.
Jamming at Jack B's Irish Birthday Bash
Jamming at Jack B's Irish Birthday Bash

Back to top of page. 

Audio Samples - Solo Pianist

Classical/Wedding Processional:
Air from Water Music (Handel):

Classical:
C Major Prelude (Bach):

Presto (Pescetti):

B Minor Waltz (Schubert):

Broadway Showtune/Jazz Standard with Latin improv:
All the Things You Are (Kern):

Jazz Standard/Swing improv:
Taking a Chance on Love (Gershwin):

1960s Pop/retro 1920s:
When I'm 64 (The Beatles):


Back to top of page.


Audio Samples - Solo Accordionist

French Café:
La Mer:

Klezmer [E. European Jewish/Gypsy]:
Hora & Bulgar:

Irish/Celtic trad. [jig & hornpipe]:
Out on the Ocean/Harvest Home:

German/Bavarian/Oktoberfest:
Wenn Ich Auf Hohen Bergen Stehte:

Italian trad. Folk Song & Tarantella:
Cade L'Uliva/Abballatti:

Classical/Wedding Processionals:
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke):

Wedding March (Mendelssohn):

Calypso/Disney:
Under the Sea [from the Little Mermaid]:

1950s/Swing/Shuffle:
Blue Moon:

Country/Patsy Cline:
Crazy:



Back to top of page.