Susan is the recipient of a variety of awards to include:
- Hospice and the Arts Partnership Grants
- Kalamazoo Arts Outreach Award
- Arts Fund of Greater Kalamazoo Awards
- Philo Farnsworth Finalist Award
- Wolf Trap Silver Medallion Awards
- TRW Challenge Award
- Pharmacia/Upjohn Community Arts Grants
- Gilmore Emerging Artist Grant
- Music City Song Festival Award
- Kalamazoo Artist Development Initiative
- Song Door Honorable Mention
- Videos: A.M. Social Hour
- Nostalgia Trippin
“Harrison’s singing style is ethereal, yet bluesy. Her songs radiate warmth and honesty through beautiful melodies and reassuring humor.” Lorraine Caron, WMUK
“Susan’s playful, energetic performances capture the attention of any audience.” Julie Duval, Wheatland Music Festival.
“We wrapped up the education workshops with Susan Harrison’s songwriting lesson and discussed a wide range of topics pertaining to writing music, lyrics, how to present your music to other musicians and critiquing techniques…..Great stuff.” Travis Bell, Kalamazoo blues fest education tent. Kalamazoo Blues Festival
"Susan has the ability to observe the needs of her audience and craft her performance to address those needs.” Jen Nowlen, Music Teacher , Woodland School for Technology and Research.
“Her strengths to promote the arts in education are outstanding.” Todd Greenbaum, MiAEYC Wolf Trap Director.
“Everyone enjoys her programs, which are consistently original, thought provoking, and upbeat….I have always found them to be professionally done and meaningful to all ages.” Meg King-Sloan, Comstock Township Library
Susan's music invites you on a Nostalgia Trip as she takes you on a vicarious vacation. She’ll share her original songs that have been described as alternative, rock, jazzy pop and acoustic soul. Her music is more than blues and joy, there are shades of purple and hues of turquoise, sweet, sassy, soulful, clever and fun.
Susan loves singing the blues and has fronted many bands through the years; Tumbling Dice, The Recyclettes and Mirage ….to name a few. She started out playing traditional and cover tunes and quickly discovered her own voice writing her own award winning songs. She plays slide, electric, acoustic six and twelve string guitars. She also hosts Kalamazoo’s songwriting workshops each month and hopes to never quit learning. Susan has a different show for any age audience, preschool to seniors. No kidding.
Susan Harrison is an entertaining chameleon who wows audiences with her upbeat interactive performances. Her lively spirit, playful original songs, colorful palamazoo puppet characters, rhythmic dance and enchanting stories invite you to join in her fun performances. Susan is the founder of PALamazoo puppet and music productions, she is a Wolf Trap Institute artist and Regional coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International). She presents her award winning songs at concerts, conferences, festivals, school assemblies, corporate events and clubs. Harrison has released several CD’s for young children, Jungle Jamboree, Once Upon A Rhyme, PALamazoo Hullabaloo and Improvin’ by Movin’. Her adult musical projects include the CD, Make Waves and the Hospice inspired, Sunset at Meditation Point and the new Thing or Three about Love. Books include, Daddy, do ya wanna and teacher activity books to accompany the CD’s. Videos include Jungle Jamboree/ Let’s Go Exploring.
Susan Harrison is a Western Michigan University graduate and a performance artist for Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. She started PALamazoo puppet and music productions in 1987 and enjoys working with puppetry because you can combine so many different arts disciplines. From script writing, set and puppet design to the music, movement and drama influences, puppetry can have it all. Susan has several award winning CD’s available along with companion teacher activity books, a coloring songbook and award winning video. Susan taught Drama in Education at WMU and has presented her educational workshops at conferences throughout the Midwest. Palamazoo performances have appeared on a variety of venues from television and radio to corporate events, schools, festivals, senior homes, libraries and concert halls.
Susan’s music invites you to take a vicarious vacation with her whether solo, duo or with her band Evolver, she’s always stretching musical limits. Harrison is a talented, soulful singer, an honest expressive songwriter and a compelling live performer. Her musical vision is sometimes smooth and intricate and sometimes rough and hard edged. She weaves rootsy pop-edged images into a tapestry of exciting melodies with romping rhythms. Her style incorporates blues, jazz, rock, alternative country and pop creating a style that is acoustic soul.
Comments From a School Audience:
“I liked the first sound of her voice.” Bernard Rutaremara
"She played guitar...and it was fun. I want to be a guitar player like her when I grow up.” Ciera Robinson
“The guitar music and her voice were fun!” Ra'nya Rolland
“The music kept my class moving and dancing. It can take a lot to get them going!” Ms. Rice
“Her songs sound fantastic!” Jocelyn Williams
“I liked when the boys from our class were on stage.” Natalya Norris
“I got to pretend I was a jazz musician.” Mikey Wiley
“I like how she used puppets when she sang in front of the students.”
Mrs. Tomlinson
“Susan Harrison was a great singer.” Shaquan Polk
“Cool guitar! I want to learn to play it!” Vagas Pratt