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Suzanne infused the organization with her own vision while preserving its core values when she took over the role from Mallarmé’s founder, Anna Wilson, in 2008. “We still abide by that basic premise of chamber music, which is an ensemble of two or more people without a conductor, … but also try to expand the definition of chamber music,” she says. Expect to hear Bach from the pews of NorthStar Church of the Arts or Duke Chapel; a program of Cuban dance music at Motorco Music Hall; or a family-friendly concert at the Durham County Main Library. “We’re a nomadic group, so we don’t have our own space, and that’s part of the charm,” Suzanne says. The group also does not have a core of musicians, instead hiring local instrumentalists based on the repertoire. “We try to be diverse, and I think we do a good job at that – everything from early music on period instruments to … the brass concert we did [in early February] with contemporary American music.” As Mallarmé’s sole full-time employee, “there’s a lot of things to do, as with any nonprofit,” Suzanne says. “You’re arranging concerts, you’re securing venues, getting pianos tuned, organizing musicians. That’s the day to day as far as the artistic part. But there’s a bunch related to the administrative side – finances, grant writing. How do you sell your tickets on your website? How do you build a website? artistic director, Mallarmé Music That’s time consuming, … and most of what I’ve learned, I’ve learned along the way. “One thing that’s great about my job is uzanne Rousso discovered her love that I still get to perform on my instrument,” for the viola when it came time Suzanne says. “Performing is really the best A HIGH NOTE G part, honestly – having concerts that people to choose an instrument in her “I love all our concerts, but I am love and are excited about.” And if you think third grade music classroom especially looking forward to our 40th the movements, pieces and notes are rote by on Long Island. “It seemed season anniversary celebratory concert this point, Suzanne is quick to negate that to fit my personality,” she says. on Friday, May 24, at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw,” Suzanne says. notion. “I still have to practice every day on “I’m kind of an introvert, “Violinist Jennifer Curtis, cellist Caroline my instrument,” she says. “I try to do at least and I think that’s the role Stinson and pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute an hour. You can’t ever stop.” of the viola.” will perform Franz Schubert’s monumental B-flat Trio, Op. 99. I am Mallarmé itself embodies that doctrine. Her passion for playing excited to have such a stellar group of “I think 40 years is a pretty respectable blossomed from that point, taking her musicians playing a traditional chamber music work in a distinctly nontraditional number,” Suzanne says. She and Mallarmé to a Juilliard pre-college program venue for classical music … it kind of board chair Andrea Edith Moore are as a high school student and on sums up what Mallarmé is all about!” to several roles as a freelance excited for what the future holds for the orchestral musician. She organization. “It shows that classical moved to North Carolina music, chamber music and the type of in 1989 and played for the programming we do has longevity,” Andrea North Carolina Symphony, eventually taking on the says. “[Suzzane’s] really a jill-of-all-trades – she’s able to lead and be role of its director of education, which she held for in that role, but also be an artist and a performer. She’s one of the nearly a decade. She moved to Maine and worked for busiest performers I know.” – by Natalie McCormick the Portland Symphony Orchestra for several years before she and her son, Charles Manker, “missed North Carolina so much” that they moved back when a job for chamber music ensemble Mallarmé Music Mallarmé often books venues like NorthStar Church of the Arts for concerts. opened up. This season marks her 15th as artistic director “Durham has changed immensely over the years, and there are so many of the Durham institution, which also celebrates a milestone more organizations, performers, musicians, artists – it’s a great place to be,” anniversary of 40 years this fall. Suzanne says.
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