Susan Lynn (1955 - 2023)
We are sad to announce the death of Sue Lynn, who passed away on 10 July this year.
Sue was a violin teacher here at Matrix Arts Centre for several years and will be remembered fondly by colleagues and students alike for her big personality, fantastic musicianship, and passionate dedication to her instrument.
The following obituary is taken from the funeral address given by Tony Furze on 3 August 2023:
Sue grew up in Middlesbrough and always referred to herself as a Yorkshire girl. Her father Kenneth was a sensitive pianist and music lover who, together with her mother and aunt (who spent her savings on Sue’s first violin), encouraged her in her early learning of the violin.
Sue developed into a fine young violinist, winning competitions at school and playing at local concerts: the Middlesborough Gazette referred to her as the new and exciting young violin star.
It was decided that she should enrol in the Yehudi Menuhin school in Stoke D’Abernon and she duly passed all her entrance exams. However, after her interview with Menuhin, he remarked that she played with great enthusiasm and not a little skill, but without proper technique - so she would have to start to learn from scratch. For six months she bowed nothing but a broom handle and learned how to stand and hold a violin. Later on, Sue would often remark that the overworked title of child prodigy and talent were mostly nonsense and that her ability to play was 95% hard work and 5% talent.
The teaching and guidance she received from Menuhin was a great influence on her style of playing and her dedication quickly made her a favourite of her teacher. One of her contemporaries at the school was Nigel Kennedy who she often beat in school competitions: she was fond of pointing out that he used to be such a nice boy, and so well spoken! Towards the end of her time there she was chosen to accompany Menuhin on a tour of American cities, playing the Bach double and Sibelius concerto to great acclaim. Sue remained on friendly terms with the Menuhin family for many years afterwards, corresponding with Menuhin until his death.
On leaving the Menuhin School, Sue won an ABRSM scholarship to The Royal Academy and began a new independent life studying under Sir Frederick Grinke for three years. During this time, she won many prizes: the GL AA young musician of the year - the precursor to the BBC Young Musician competition - in 1976 [recording below] and again in 1979; The Countess of Munster trust award and The Park Lane award for contemporary music. Sue formed a piano trio called Trio Zingara with a group of fellow scholars and together they won The Overseas League award.
It was around this time that Sue started to develop a number of different illnesses that eventually plagued her life and sadly prevented her from developing her career as a soloist. She married and had a son, Alex, of whom she was extremely fond and he repaid her love most wonderfully well in taking care of her in the last few years of her life.
She did, however, in periods of good health play with many orchestras, becoming a great friend of Nigel Marriner and a member of The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, described by Iona Brown as the best leader the orchestra never had! Sue guest led a number of orchestras: The English Chamber orchestra, the LSO and Philharmonic BBC NOW, and for many years the much-acclaimed leader of The City of Oxford Orchestra.
She also worked with a number of bands and individual musicians in an unusual departure from the classical, proving to be a gifted jazz violinist and interpreter of rhythm, appearing as Hot Bow with Hotlips Sarah, her long time and much-loved friend; with the band “Take That” and Madonna on tour; but she often spoke with great pride in being the only woman ever to appear with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah band!
Later still, Sue played with the singer-songwriter Richard Sanderson and together they played several performances in France of interpretations from the American songbook. She became very fond of Richard, his wife and their daughters and loved this departure from the classical.
Towards the end of her playing career Sue was the leader of the orchestra to the All Saints Singers and she will be remembered for both choral performances and individual works. Together with Caroline Hobbs-Smith, Gulliver Ralston, Sebastian Thomson and Peter McMullin, Sue worked tirelessly to ensure top performances and helped to recruit some very fine musicians. Many local residents from Sutton Courtenay will remember her playing a wonderful rendition of Vaughan Williams “The Lark Ascending” with Patrick Salisbury conducting.
Illness finally prevented her from performing and Sue specialised in teaching young people from five years old to postgraduate level. Quite a number have gone on to make music a career and now carry the learning with them to pass on to the next generation.
Sue loved fun, clothes, rock music, dinner parties and chocolate and played the violin like an angel. She was a generous and kind person, loved and held with great affection by many.
This recording of Sue was kindly sent to Tony from the BBC archives of the Young Musician competition in 1976:
The following is a recording of Sue playing a work composed for her by the composer Maria Antal:
