Susan ArchulettaBOARD MEMBER

Susan started piano and violin lessons when she was eight years old, and was an original member of Symphony of the Redwoods, playing viola. She has continued to be an active musician, playing in many chamber groups, bands, orchestras, and improvisation ensembles throughout the decades. Susan attended UC Berkeley as a music and art major, and played viola in the UC Symphony. During the 60's and 70's, she collaborated with many musicians, including Don Buchla creating electro-acoustic music, recording albums with Pat Kilroy and The New Age at Elektra and Warner Bros., Robbie Basho on Tacoma Records, and The Habibiyya on Island Records. She performed her original piano compositions for years in Mendocino, as well as a collaborative concert with dancer/choreographer June Watanabe in Cotton Auditorium. She also studied Japanese music on koto at the American Society for Eastern Arts.

Susan moved to the Mendocino Coast in 1980, where she raised her four children. She has long been an advocate for music instruction in public schools, and was President and Co -Founder of Mendocino Education Foundation for the Creative Arts.

After her children graduated from Mendocino schools, Susan taught public school in the Berkeley Unified School District, and played viola in Berkeley Baroque Strings. After her retirement from Berkeley USD, she moved back to Fort Bragg, where she unexpectedly became interim band teacher in Fort Bragg. Susan plays piano and violin with the English Country Dance Band: Take a Dance, and alto sax with the Bob Ayres Big Band. She is pleased to be part of the Symphony of the Redwoods again as a Board member.