Violinist Susan Heerema has performed as soloist since the age of nine, and as concertmaster since age 11. She received her BM degree in Violin Performance from the Juilliard School of Music, where she was a pupil of Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, Stephen Clapp, and then later, studied with Richard Simon, member of the NY Philharmonic. 

Ms. Heerema has maintained an active career and served as soloist and concertmaster with orchestras, Spectrum Symphony of NY, Society of Musical Arts, Long Island Concert, Amor Artis, the MidAtlantic Opera, and the Light Opera of NJ. Recently, she performed Bruch's G Minor Violin Concerto with the Bloomfield Symphony, Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, Dvorak’s Romance in F with the Society of Musical Arts, and Monti’s “Czardas” and Massenet’s “Meditation” from Thais with Spectrum Symphony of NY.  Most recently, Ms. Heerema performed as the soloist in “Winter” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Taghkanic Orchestra and Chorus on December 11 and 12, 2021.

Having performed as concertmaster for eight years with the Berkshire Opera Company, Ms. Heerema was invited to perform at the inaugural performance of Madama Butterfly in 2016 with the newly formed Berkshire Opera Festival and Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, 2017 with Brian Garman.  Ms. Heerema performed as concertmaster under renowned opera conductors Joel Revzen, Kathy Kelly, and as Principal for Anton Coppola and Alfredo Silipigni. Ms. Heerema has performed under the batons of Rostropovich, Rampal, and Menuhin in France; toured Norway, Iceland and Scotland; performed with the Spoleto and Sarasota Opera Festivals, and with several major Baroque festivals in the U.S. Susan served as contractor and concertmaster for “Prayers for America,” the memorial services for the victims of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks held at both the Yankee Stadium and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NY.

Among other positions, she has been the contractor, musical librarian, and personnel manager of orchestras, and sat concertmaster for the “Phantom of the Opera” national tour, and performed on various TV shows including David Letterman, Conan O’Brien with celebrities such as U2, Doc Severinsen, The Doors, Matchbox Twenty VH1, and Blackstreet MTV Unplugged. Ms. Heerema has recorded on labels for Vanessa Williams, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett and Brian Stokes Mitchell. For the last 19 years, Ms. Heerema has taught AP Music Theory, and served as Director of Music for both the Indian Hills Chamber Choir and Concert Choir and the String Orchestra of Indian Hills Regional High School in Oakland, NJ. Susan Heerema has blended administrative experience, community service, youth education and her expertise in leadership to make all performances or events professional. She creates and collaborates with NY and NJ communities performing either solos, contracting or leading orchestras, conducting choirs and/or orchestras, and teaching aspiring students and adults, so audiences can enjoy the exciting medium of music. We look forward to Ms. Heerema’s performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at SOMA’s fall opening concert in 2022.