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Susan Fancher

Lecturing Fellow of Music
Music
105 Biddle Music Building, BOX_90665, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Susan Fancher is an internationally recognized classical saxophonist known for her expressive tone and poetic musical interpretations. She has inspired and premiered over 100 new compositions and continues to collaborate with composers both young and more established to create new, vibrant repertoire for the saxophone. Audiences and critics praise her ability to fill even the most complex notation with life, a trademark of her work as a champion of new music.

Susan Fancher performs in many settings: concerto soloist, performances for saxophone with electronics, recitals together with pianist Ināra Zandmane, soprano saxophonist with the Red Clay Saxophone Quartet, performances of music for saxophone and chorus, member of the Women’s Wind Ensemble, and as vocalist and soprano saxophonist with the band The Difficulties. She is the former soprano saxophonist of the Amherst, Vienna, and Rollin’ Phones saxophone quartets.

She has performed in many of the world’s leading venues including Sala São Paulo, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Filharmonia Hall in Warsaw, and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and has appeared in concert in Albania, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and throughout the US.

Born and raised in Albion, New York, Susan Fancher earned undergraduate degrees in both saxophone performance and mathematics, as well as her Doctor of Music, from Northwestern University, where she was a student of Dr. Frederick Hemke. She was awarded the Médaille d'Or (Gold Medal) from the conservatory in Bordeaux, France, where she studied with Monsieur Jean-Marie Londeix. Susan Fancher teaches saxophone and coaches chamber music at Duke University, and is an artist clinician for the Vandoren/DANSR and Selmer companies.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Lecturing Fellow of Music · 2022 - Present Music, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

Education, Training & Certifications


Northwestern University · 2002 D.Mus.
Northwestern University · 1997 M.Mus.
Northwestern University · 1987 B.A.
Northwestern University · 1987 B.Mus.