"An artist in every sense of the word."   -Chicago Tribune Susan Spelius Dunning is an exciting pianist who combines dramatic virtuosity with sensitive poetic musicianship. She was raised in Chicago where she performed her solo piano recital debut at the age of 16. Her first solo orchestral appearance was at the Grant Park Pavilion in downtown Chicago. Spelius Dunning was the recipient of the prestigious Amelita Galli Curci Foundation Award and received numerous scholarships from the Three Arts Club of Chicago. Her teachers in Chicago included John Suter and Dolores Fredrickson. Spelius Dunning received a Bachelor’s degree from The American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and went on to receive a Master’s Degree from Colorado State University where she studied with Dr. Janet Landreth. She continued her studies in the Doctrate of Musical Arts program at the University of Colorado. Spelius Dunning later studied in San Francisco with the renowned Hungarian concert pianist Sari Biro who had a significant influence on her performance career. Spelius Dunning went on to receive high critical praise for her solo piano and orchestral appearances. Even at a young age,  Spelius Dunning appeared on radio and television broadcasts. She was the featured soloist for a critically acclaimed public broadcasting documentary produced by San Francisco based Melchor Productions. Spelius Dunning was on faculty at the College of the Canyons for nearly a decade and had a very successful private piano studio in Los Angeles, where she taught and coached many award-winning students. Her recent solo appearances have included performing lecture-recitals in Europe and chamber music concerts throughout the Western United States and Hawaii. Her most recent European tour was in Scotland where she performed at historic locations in Loch Lomond, Nairn, and Wick.  Spelius Dunning has recently recorded a solo CD featuring works by Rachmaninoff, Khatchaturian, Schumann and Chopin.    “As one who has been around music and musicians for over a quarter of a century, I do not hesitate to sing her praises nor to esteem her as one of the finest musicians I have ever known and heard.”   -Edward Jablonski, Author and Music Critic, New York City Susan Spelius Dunning currently lives in Sun Valley, Idaho and Perugia, Italy.