Suzanne Teng has been described by the Los Angeles Times has described as a “brilliant flutist” who “plays music for the soul.” Originally from Berkeley, California, she received her master’s degree in music from Boston University’s School for the Arts and pursued a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology at UCLA.
She is a renowned flutist, composer, recording artist, and educator. She has released seven critically acclaimed albums that have won numerous international awards including the Independent Music Awards (twice), International Acoustic Music Awards, Los Angeles Music Awards, Global Music Awards (Gold Medal), Peace Song Awards, InterContinental Music Awards, New Mexico Music Awards, and Album of the Year Award from NAFSA (Native American Style Flute Awards), and most recently, the Best Multiple Flutes Artist Award by the World Flute Society. Recognized for the healing qualities of her music, the pharmaceutical company Genentech commissioned her to create a CD that was distributed to over 50,000 cancer patients to aid in their recovery.
She is an endorsed artist for Yamaha, representing the low flutes on which she is recognized for her beautiful tone and expressive playing. Music Connection Magazine wrote that in “Teng’s delightful flute performances…joy emanates from her soul when she plays.”
Suzanne has performed at numerous major events with spiritual leaders such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Marianne Williamson, and Deepak Chopra, and has worked with a wide variety of artists and ensembles including the Boston Philharmonic, Los Angeles Pops Orchestra, Tito Puente, Babatundi Olatunji, Airto and Flora Purim, and The Dramatics. Suzanne has performed for a variety of high-profile events including the VIP reception for Henry Kissinger and numerous Heads of State at the opening ceremonies for the World Cup , the Getty Family, the SAG Awards Ceremony (Screen Actors Guild), and for countless benefit concerts where she has opened for performers such as Sting, Don Henley (Eagles), Jackson Browne, Colin Hay (Men At Work), David Crosby, and Patti Smythe.
Her music has been licensed thousands of times and was featured on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Her playing can be heard on hundreds of recordings on Polygram, Warner Brothers, Windham Hill, BMG, Sony Records, Shanachi, Sounds True, Scottie Brothers, and numerous independent labels. and has been featured on soundtracks for Kleenex, Pepsi, Dodge, Johnnie Walker, video games Myst and Prince of Persia, film and television soundtracks for Emmy-winning Tumble Leaf (PBS), Miss Spider, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Boston Legal and Murder, She Wrote, Machu Pichu/Netflix Special, numerous feature films including 300, and for films and commercials for India, Germany, Korea, and Mexico. She has appeared on national television, including live performances as a band member on CBS’s Survivor finale shows.
Suzanne is also a renowned music educator who presents workshops and clinics around the country, at conservatories, colleges, music camps, schools, and major music conventions. A respected music educator, she was invited to serve on the National Endowment for the Arts Music Education panel for three years.
Suzanne currently resides in Santa Fe, NM.