Celebrating Excellence: Dr. Susanna Garcia, Our 2024 Grand Marshal
Today, we celebrate Professor Emerita Susanna Garcia, a pianist and educator, whose 31 years of service in the School of Music and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are marked by her impressive dedication, innovation, and mentorship.
Dr. Garcia’s journey in music education began at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where she received her undergraduate degree. She earned Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
As the Louisiana Board of Regents/Ruth Stodghill Girard Endowed Professor from 2000 to 2021, Dr. Garcia has made lasting contributions to our institution. She served as the Coordinator of Keyboard Studies and the Scholarship Coordinator for the School of Music, roles that highlighted her deep dedication to student success and curriculum development. Among her many achievements, the development of eNovativePiano with her colleague Dr. Chat Kiat Lim stands out. This groundbreaking sequenced multimedia innovation revolutionized piano instruction and earned them the prestigious Music Teachers National Association-Frances Clark Award for Keyboard Pedagogy in 2021.
Dr. Garcia’s commitment to music education is further evident in her work as a clinician and scholar. She has presented workshops, master classes, and research papers at numerous conferences and has been published widely in scholarly journals. In addition, she has held leadership roles in organizations such as the Music Teachers National Association, Louisiana Music Teachers Association and, is currently serving on the board of trustees for the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy.
Dr. Garcia’s career travels far beyond the classroom. She has performed solo and chamber recitals, across the United States and internationally, delighting audiences from Canada to Ghana. Her partnership with William Chapman Nyaho as the Nyaho/Garcia Piano Duo has received critical acclaim for their recordings and performances of both standard and contemporary repertoire.
In their nomination, colleagues shared much admiration. Dr. Garth Alper applauded her significant contributions, explaining that she “conjured up and successfully implemented a major overhaul of our piano curriculum through the development of eNovative Piano,” a first-of-its-kind online curriculum that is now used at colleges and high schools across the country. Dr. Chan Kiat Lim shared, “Susie Garcia's contributions to the School are undeniable, from the grant writings to the committees she has served and the mentorship she has provided. And as a teacher, she always had her student's interests at heart. Having worked closely with her for almost 15 years in creating eNovativePiano from the ground up, I greatly value her pedagogical perspectives, analytical insights, creativity, curiosity, and resilience.”
Although retired since 2021, Dr. Garcia remains active in music education through initiatives to make music education more inclusive, continued committee service, and publishing new works. She continues to inspire and lead in her retirement.
It is an honor to recognize Dr. Susie Garcia as our Grand Marshal today.
