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MA University Of Augsburg, Music Education, conservatory training at Augsburg Konservatorium
1998-Present Performing Artist, Bandleader, Free-lance reed player
Jazz:
Performed with Vince Giordano, James Singleton, Don Vappie, Roger Humphries, Tcha Limberger, Helmut Nieberle, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Tom Roberts, Mark Strickland, and many others
Klezmer:
Performed with Alan Bern, Emil Eibinder (Israel), Guy Klusevec, Vladimir Mollov (Bulgaria), Michael Ward-Bergeman, Martin Masakowski Classical:
Performed with Noah Bendix Balgley (1. Concertmaster of Berlin Philharmonics)
Choro:
Performed with Catherine Bent, Salvador Avila, Bruno Elisabetsky, Filipe Leite, Nando Duarte
2020 Organizer and Artistic Director of the 1. Choro Festival in New Orleans
2017-present Self-employed Musician based in New Orleans
Regular performances in and around New Orleans featuring Traditional
Jazz, Early Brazilian, Venezuelan, Eastern European
Paid transcription service
Founder and administrator of Choro Challenge, an online educational
community for the preservation, promotion, and revitalization of early
Brazilian music.
Susanne Ortner Trio (with James Singleton, bass, and Nahum Zdybel,
guitar) Self-employed Musician based in Pittsburgh
2006-2016 Self-employed Musician based in Pittsburgh
Regular performances in Pittsburgh featuring Klezmer, and Early Jazz Lectures, workshops, and demonstrations on Klezmer
The History of Klezmer Music (The Hillel Center for Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, School of Music)
Lecture and master class (Department of Music, Duquesne University, clarinet class of Ron Samuel)
A Marriage between Klezmer and Harlem Stride - lecture and concert with Tom Roberts (Carnegie Mellon University)
Lecture, concert, and workshop with German quartet Sing Your Soul (High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Pittsburgh)
Klezmer Workshop (Department of Music, University of Pittsburgh): an intensive course on the repertoire, theory, history, and instrumental technique, including the improvisation of Yiddish music, Pittsburgh, PA
Band instructor at J-Site (Agency of Jewish Learning), Pittsburgh, PA
Composing and Arranging for theatre productions
Music for Mazel (original composition, arrangement, and performance: Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh)
Music for Our Class (original composition and arrangement, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre) (2013)
Music for “Die Weihnachtsgeschichte”, a play performed at the Marionette Theatre Augsburger Puppenkiste (2016)
2006-2016 Research scholar at the University of Pittsburgh (German department) Outreach program with Pittsburgh are Holocaust survivors: “Who are these Germans?”
Testimonials with music
2013 Organizer and Artistic Director of the Three Rivers Klezmer Festival, Performing in trio the opening concert together with Noah Bendix-Balgley (1. concert master of the Berlin Philharmonics) on violin, and Alan Bern on piano/accordion
2012 Part-time Instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Music (Director of the Carpathian Ensemble), Pittsburgh, PA
Presenting music from the Carpathian mountains
Leading sectionals
Arranging for the ensemble
Conducting ensemble
2012-2017 Clarinet Instructor (adjunct faculty) at Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA
Setting curriculum for clarinet studio • Scheduling
Audition juror
Faculty performances
2012 Part-time Instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, German Department (teaching German I, and II, as well as German For Reading Knowledge) Pittsburgh, PA
Setting curriculum for German language program
Scheduling
Organizing groups outside of class
Creating new pedagogical approaches to German language and education
2002 – 2007 Clarinet and Saxophone Instructor at the Musikwerkstatt (School for jazz and Popular music), Augsburg, Bavaria (Germany)
2002-2006 Middle-School Teacher with Tenure (2005) in Music and German, Realschule Voehringen, Bavaria Germany)
Setting curriculum
Scheduling
Conducting choir
Leading percussion ensemble
Organizing and conducting concerts
Field trips
Voice tutoring
Recordings (selected)
2020 Last Stop Sehnsucht (self-released) Brazilian Choro, Jazz, Venezuelan Waltzes and more. Susanne Ortner-Trio with James Singleton, and Nahum Zdybel.
2016 Die Weihnachtsgeschichte (original music, and Arrangements for Die Puppenkiste Augsburg). With Guy Klusevec, John Marcinizyn, Paul Thompson,
and international guest artists.
2012 Hot World Chamber Music (Wild about Harry! Records). With The Ortner- Roberts Duo
2012 Hill District Beat – A Tribute to Teenie Harris (soundtrack for Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story, produced by the Manchester Craftsmen’s
Guild). With The MCG All Stars.
2008 A Trip To America—A Yiddish/ Creole Fusion (Wild about Harry! Records). With The Ortner-Roberts Duo.
2007 Deadly Medicine: Creating a Master Race (Music for the Video: Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh)
2004 Khosn, Kale, Mazl-Tov! (self-released). With Sing Your Soul Quartet
Ensembles and Projects
2019 – Present Brazilian Trio Macumba with 7string guitarist Salvador Avila and percussionist Filipe Leite
2017 – Present Susanne Ortner Trio: Jazz and world with guitarist Nahum Zdybel and bassist James Singleton
2016 – Present Duo Ortner/Limberger: Jazz clarinet & guitar/violin/voice with Tcha Limberger (Belgium)
2012-2017 Duo Ortner-Roberts/Marcinizyn: Jazz clarinet & guitar with John Maricinzyn
2012-2016 Klez & Morim: Innovative Klezmer and Gypsy Jazz with Bulgarian accordionist Vladimir Mollov
2007-2013 Ortner-Roberts Duo (with pianist Tom Roberts)
Concerts at Allegheny Riverstone Center For The Arts, Temple Sinai, Sears Recital Hall, University of Dayton, Ocean County College, Ocean County Library, Byam Theatre, Aolian Hall in London/Ontario, Great Room of the National Transit Building in Oil City, Barukh College in Manhattan, Mozart- Festival in Foxburg, Jewish Music Festival Pittsburgh (together with vince Giordano and Roger Humphries)
2007 Solo Concert for Christian-Jewish-Dialogue (University of Dayton) 2003 - 2007
2003 – 2007 Solo project “Literature with Clarinet Accompaniment” (The City Theatre
Augsburg) 2003 1998-2008
2005 Kristallnacht Commemorations: Solo performances at the University of Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Holocaust Center, and area schools '
2003 Israel Tour (Tel Aviv and Jerusalem): Performances with violinist Nir Sarussi and accordionist Emil Eibinder
1998 – 2008 Klezmer Ensemble Sing Your Soul (founder) Augsburg
USA Tour: Concerts at Temple Sinai, Mt. Lebanon Public Library,
University of Pittsburgh, The Holocaust Center)
Germany Tours: The Augsburg Synagogue, City Hall in Gersthofen, The Albert-Einstein Hall in Ulm, Bobingen Singold Hall, City Hall in Stadtbergen, Cultural Center in the Wolfgang-Eychmüller-Haus, Ulm,
1996 – 2000 Musikwerkstatt Bigband Augsburg
1995 – 98 Musikwerkstatt Saxophone quartet
1993 – 95 Bigband Wertingen
1994 – 97 Augsburg University Orchestra
1989 – 92 Bavarian Youth Symphony Orchestra
1987 – 92 Woodwind Ensemble Wertingen,
Book
2011 Co-author and subject of the book Living The Dream – Für die Musik nach Amerika: Die Klarinettistin Susanne Ortner-Roberts im Gespräch mit Helge Fuhst by Helge Fuhst, Wißner Verlag Augsburg