Music Co-ordinator
Susan Picking
Susan Picking is a ukulele strumming, piano playing, award winning singer songwriter. Yes, Picking is her real name. She picked up the uke a few years ago, and is finally doing her sir name proud with her ukulele picking. She is releasing a new full length CD titled Wonder in the Wander. She released the single 2 years ago, but has completed an entire CD of ukulele original tunes. Picking calls this her Suzukie Sessions. The title track Wonder in the Wander, was inspired while on Safari in Tanzania Africa. A passionate traveler, the song is about the Universal Human Connection and the synchronicity and magic that happens everyday.
With the intention of creating an inspirational “Wonder in the Wander” book, Picking is hosting an essay writing contest from her website. She is asking entrants to share the Wonder in their Wander including a true story of serendipity. Top stories will be compiled into a book, and one winner gets a plane ticket.
Susan Picking originally hails from Michigan. After College, she gradually worked her way West to California via Colorado. Just last May 2010 she returned to her Midwestern roots, landing in the culturally rich town of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids is a hot bed for Indie Musicians with a vibrant music scene which is speerheaded by Community Radio station WYCE. WYCE hosts an anual awards ceremony called the Jammies. Picking was a 2011 Jammie nominee for her CD Down in Your Soul. It was nominated for Best Female Solo Release and Best overall Album. In the fall, Susan was a guest on eightWest, an NBC syndicated talk show in Grand Rapids, about the “goings on” in West Michigan. Picking was also showcased in a local holiday performance called A Winter’s Tune where local singer/songwriters are selected and asked to write and perform an original seasonal tune for the event. Picking was just named as a top 10 finalist in a local Starving Artist open Mic contest.
A Conference in Melbourne Victoria sent Susan on a tour of Australia. She just returned from her trip downunder . She also performed at some Sydney hotspots. She even performed at the Sydney Opera House……..albeit was during a tour of the architectural monument. The tour guide asked if anyone would like to test the acoustics of the music hall, Susan did. She was well recieved by this captive audience. Upon her return to the states, she has been playing at festivals, holistic healing events, teaching music to youth, and preparing for her CD release. She is currently preparing music for an upcoming hypnosis CD project. Picking is currently working with youth living in poverty in Kent County teaching music at Camp Blodgett. She wrote curriculum and raised funding to provide a music creativity workshop.
A belief that Susan holds is the healing power of sound and music. She has been studying meditational sound healing. Vibration heals and uplifts. Susan feels music is a Universal Language. Communication occurs through vibration, rhythm, melody, and lyrics. Music has the capacity to transport your mind, body, and spirit to another time and place. It is her mission to connect with and teach people through her humor, lyrics, and song. Visit at www.susanpicking.com
