Suzie Collier

Susan "Suzie" Collier is a British conductor, violinist, and music educator. She has taught at several institutions in the United Kingdom and internationally. In 2021, she was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music.

Collier in 2021

Early life and education

Susan was born to violinists Derek Collier and Lila Wong.^[1][2] She gave her first public performance as a violinist at the age of three.^[3] Collier studied at the Royal Academy of Music with a Sisselle Wray scholarship,^[4] earning the ARCM, LRAM, and GRSM qualifications.^[5]

Career

Teaching and mentorship

Collier began teaching in 1986 at the Junior Academy of the Royal Academy of Music.^[6] She has also taught at The Latymer School, Mill Hill County High School, Westminster School,^[7] and Haileybury. Her work has included ensemble coaching, directing orchestras, and classroom teaching.^[8] She has delivered several masterclass at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, University of Cambridge, MIT,^[9] and others.^[10]

Collier began conducting in 1987 at The Latymer School.^[11] From 1988 to 2024, she led the Senior Strings Chamber Orchestra at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department.^[12]

She has conducted performances and recordings with ensembles including the Metropole Orkest^[13] and the Britten Sinfonia,^[14] and worked at venues such as Abbey Road Studios.^[15]

Violinist

Collier has performed internationally as a violinist, appearing as a soloist at venues such as the Barbican Centre in Cecilia McDowall's The Girl from Aleppo^[16] or collaborating with her son at the Hollywood Bowl^[17] or the Royal Albert Hall.^[18]

Podcast

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Collier launched Suzie Explores, a podcast and digital masterclass initiative focusing on creativity and music education.^[19]

Awards

Collier was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2001.^[20] She was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM) in 2021.^[21]

Personal life

Collier has three children, the eldest of whom is musician Jacob Collier.^[22]