Susan Allen (May 10, 1951 – September 7, 2015) was an American harpist whose career combined performance, recording, and teaching. Born in Monrovia, California, she became widely recognized for bringing contemporary music, improvisation, and extended playing techniques to the harp.
Career and musical approach
Allen built a reputation as a performer comfortable with new music and experimental practice. Her work often emphasized nontraditional sounds, amplified effects, and collaborative projects with composers and improvisers. Audiences and colleagues noted her commitment to expanding the expressive possibilities of the harp beyond conventional classical repertoire.
Recordings and performances
Over her active years she released roughly sixteen albums between 1979 and 2014, documenting solo projects, chamber works, and improvisatory sessions. Those recordings captured both composed contemporary pieces and exploratory improvised material. For a survey of her recorded output and career highlights see a representative professional profile.
Teaching and influence
Allen was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, affiliated with higher-education programs and workshops where she taught technique, interpretation, and creative approaches to the harp. Her students and peers credit her with encouraging experimentation and broadening the instrument's role in modern ensembles.
Legacy and death
She died of brain cancer on September 7, 2015, in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 64. Her legacy endures through recordings, former students, and continuing interest in the expanded harp vocabulary she advocated.
- Instrument focus: concert harp and electric/extended techniques
- Output: about 16 albums (1979–2014)
- Roles: performer, recording artist, educator