I play the 11 course d minor Lute.​

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Apart from historical lute music, I have an interest in working with composers to create new lute music.​

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In 1988 Australian composer Robert Allworth AOM wrote his Lute Concerto for me. It was released in 1990 on the CD Earth Spirit: Australian Composers (Jade Records) and again in 1997 on the CD Eden in Atlantis (Jade)

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From 2011 - 2014, I worked with UK composer Matthew Leigh Embelton on his Music for Lute and Laptop series of recordings. Volume 1 and Volume 2

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For the past 15 years I have worked with Tasmanian composer Karlin Greenstreet Love on new lute music, including her suite of pieces titled A Lute on the Géographe; the music, offering a French perspective of Tasmania. The recording will be released in 2026.

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Other composers I have worked with include Helen Morrison, Janina Oost & Jean-Christoph Rosaz on his work based on the poem by Tasmanian poet Judith EP Johnson If I Could See Perfume on Night Air.

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A collaboration with folk musicians John, Caroline and Malcolm Bushby to trace the traditional origins of music in the Balcarres Lute Book (c.1700), resulted in a unique recording of lute, Scottish lowland pipes, harp, fiddle and whistle titled The Lasse of Petties Mill - Music from 17th Century Scotland, the Balcarres Manuscript.

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In January 2022 I recorded the second CD in my LadyLute series, Ladylute2 - Relaxing Lute .

 

In April 2023 I recorded Lute Duets with Tasmanian lutenist Nishka Corry featuring a piece composed for us by Karlin Love to artwork by Luke Tscharke, titled Tasmanian Cushion Plants.

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From 2026 I will be working with Sydney based composer Steve Wood in the creation of a work for lute dedicated to Australian luthier John (Ben) Hall.

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I was born in Sydney as Susan Jones, later changing my name to Susan King. I gained my Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Initially I majored in Classical Guitar, studying with Peter Andrews, then lute, studying  with Robert Clancy, Tommie Andersson and William Bower.  Later, I furthered my studies overseas with Jakob Lindberg, Nigel North, Claire Antonini and Hopkinson Smith. I now make my home in Tasmania, Australia.

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I currently play an 11 course lute built by Jason Petty of Canada. https://www.jasonpettylutes.com/

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