.
Su is available for:
---Drum Circle Facilitation
---Group Classes & Workshops
---Private Lessons
---Charitable Causes
---Recording Sessions
---Live Performance
Su
is a highly respected, in-demand session player and live
percussionist hailing from her lifelong home of New York
City, She began her musical training early with violin studies
at the age of 10. In high school she moved to guitar, and
while finishing her Architectural Degree she gained some
dexterity with the 5-string banjo. Su fell in love with
the Djembe around 1990, when she was initiated into African
poly-rhythm by Sanga-of-the-Valley (One of Olatunji's
lead players). And blossomed into Sekere when she received
her first gourd from Madelane "Yayo" Nelson in 1995.
---
Babatunde Olatunji
---------Sanga-of-the-Valley
----------Madelane Nelson
Su
went on to study sekere, djembe and conga with many wonderful
and gifted teachers through the years. Among them: Babatunde
Olatunji (Drums of Passion), Madelane "Yayo" Nelson
(Women of the Calabash), Joe Barnes, De Papa Ladji
Camara, M'Bemba Bangoura, Mamady Keita, and Michael Markus
(Magbana).
Su
and her djembes at Bandelier National Monument 2004
Fire
Spinners at FireDance 2003
Su
enjoys finding ways to weave traditional percussive instruments
into varied genres of music, and has played in Blues, Rock,
Goth, Folk, Jazz, as well as traditional African Ensembles
and Spiritual Gatherings. She has provided her artistry
in percussion for Modern Dance, Meditation, Healing Sound
Baths, Fire Spinning, Yoga Classes, Magic Shows, and Designer
Fashion Shows in New York City, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.
Su
understands the power of sacred rhythm, and her beloved
instruments have brought her to moving experiences such
as: Opening for Deepak Chopra (centering and providing focus
for over 2500 people), Performing with the CityDance Ensemble
at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC (to support families
of 9/11 casualties), and Playing at "Bushstock" (...
better known as Camp Casey in Crawford Texas, to support
Cindy Sheehan and Peace House).
Su
has recorded and performed with gifted and talented artists
including Guy Forsyth, Wendy Colonna, Carolyn Wonderland,
Lauri Cagno, Scott Williams (aka: SkyBear), Jeff McBride,
Jiva Luna, Ghandharva, Papa Mali, George DeVore, Seth Walker,
Aaron Neville, and many others.
Among
Su's instruments: Conga, Sekere, Djembe, Udu, Frame Drum,
Jaw Harp, Breath Percussion, Spoons, Drum Kit, Berimbau,
and almost anything that makes an interesting sound.
Above
all, she enjoys teaching and playing at sacred gatherings
-----grateful for the opportunity to open herself and her
instruments to the divine movement of Spirit. Su is committed
to sharing what she has learned from these amazing people
and profound experiences, and helps players of all levels
improve their form, avoid injuries, and allow themselves
to expereince the ecstatic joy and healing power of rhythm.
.....
Su
found the drum and rhythm to be a pivotal tool in her personal
spiritual work. Making rhythm available and accessible to
those who seek it as a spiritual expression has become an
important part of her current work with these instruments
of transformation.
The drum circles Su facilitates have been described as:
"vital to those who have found rhythm a significant vehicle
in the development of the personal transcendent."
--...--30
Rock NYC
--. - Liberty in Scaffold
--- Lizzy
the Disney "Cover Girl"
Among
her many talents, Su is also an Architectural Designer,
Graphic Artist, Photographer, Painter, Potter, Motorcyclist,
and Dog Trainer. During her Architectural career Su worked
for NBC managing major renovations to 30 Rockerfeller Center.
Her knowledge and love for Architectural History, her technical
ability, and her abilities with CADD, led her to work on
the Statue of Liberty Restoration Project. Her graphic works
have won national and international awards www.newexpression.com,
and her beloved Border Collies have worked for Disney Productions,
and appeared on television numerous times.
--......----Su
on the track------....-----Su's
vintage 1983 "mint" GPZ550 Kawasaki
Su
has also enjoyed the challenge of motorcycle racing school,
and has studied with Reg & Jason Pridmore at Loudon
New Hampshire, Watkin's Glen NY, and Pocono Raceway PA.
Su hasn't had the chance to get to the track in recent years
- but she still loves to get out on two wheels. Here are
a couple of pics of Su's 2016 Indian Scout.
Su
and her 2016 Indian Scout
Su's
Dad: Joe Walenta, early 1950's
----Howdy
& Buffalo Bob
-------Sid
Caesar ------Edie
Adams & Ernie Kovacs
Su
and her brother Charlie grew up seeing top quality live
entertainment up close --- Dad (Joe Walenta) worked for
NBC for over 40 years...beginning his career with camera,
lighting, and sound - covering all technical engineering
aspects of live broadcast television for "Howdy-Doody,"
"Sid Caesar's Show of Shows," "Ernie Kovacs Show", "Your
Hit Parade," "The Tonight Show," "Thanksgiving Day
Parade," and more..... He retired after working as
senior technical engineer for the first 9 years of "Saturday
Night Live." Joe was called into that project as one of
the few technical engineers left at NBC who had real experience
with live entertainment television. Su enjoyed her frequent
visits to SNL during her college years, where she gained
her deep respect and love for live music, comedy, political
satire, and performance art. Su has deep respect for, and
understanding of, the dedication, creativity, and hard work
required to create a truly professional performance.
The
Blues Brothers
Every October Su presents the "1913
Hallows Tour" at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
in New Jersey. Her Hallows Tours are always sold out weeks
in advance, and the topics she covers include the origin
of many of our Halloween traditions and objects, some of
the popular divination techniques of the period, Spiritualism
pracitces, and Edwardian period Halloween costumes and decorations.
Please go to: www.stickleymuseum.org
for more information.
Su presenting the 1913 Hallows Tour
- Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, NJ
Su is available for:
---Drum Circle Facilitation
---Group Classes & Workshops
---Private Lessons
---Charitable Causes
---Recording Sessions
---Live Performance
------Su
can be reached at:
------Please see the Workshops
page on Su's website for more information.