For many professional musicians who spend half their lives at their craft, performing at Carnegie Hall may be exciting but not extraordinary. But if you are 14 years old and have been studying an instrument for half your life and you play at Carnegie Hall, that is a remarkable accomplishment. Joshua Everett Andrew Suslak has that claim to fame.
But while he enjoys competing as well as playing the piano to entertain, the Grover Middle School eighth grader also says the piano is an “”escape”” and a way for him to relieve any feelings he may be experiencing. .
Suslak will share his talent during the Summer Sounds Concerts Series at the West Windsor Senior Center Gazebo on Wednesday, July 7, at 7 p.m. He will play classical, jazz, classic rock, showtunes, and Broadway songs. The West Windsor Board of Recreation and Parks Commission sponsors the concert series.
The immense discipline and commitment required to pursue his craft means Suslak doesn’t lead the life of an ordinary 14-year-old. During the school year, Suslak takes lessons on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Westminster Conservatory. In addition, he practices the piano every day for three to four hours. His dedication doesn’t always allow a lot of free time for Suslak. “”Sometimes I miss out having free time after school and hanging with my friends because I practice the piano right after school,”” he says. “”It doesn’t allow me to hang with friends until later in evening and sometimes they’re not available at that time.””
But Suslak has gained a different, equally fulfilling, sort of camaraderie on his own. At the age of 10, he decided to start playing for seniors in the area. He began performing at Bear Creek Nursing Home in West Windsor. He says he came up with the idea because the nursing home is right near his house. “”I enjoy performing and entertaining people,”” says Suslak. “”Also, I believe if an individual has talent they should share it with other people.”” He also performs at the Forsgate Nursing Home in Monroe and will soon start entertaining at the University Medical Center at Princeton.
Looking ahead, Suslak intends to pursue the piano professionally. “”My goal for next year is to attend the Julliard School of Music,”” he says. To do so would require his going into New York every Saturday concurrently while spending weekdays at High School South. After graduation, he hopes to attend Julliard fulltime where, he says, “”I will learn the theory of music and how to create my own music as well as learning classical and jazz.””
While Suslak enjoys playing a range of different music, his favorite composers are Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt. “”I like Chopin because his pieces are so beautiful. I enjoy playing Liszt because his pieces can show my fullest potential and range of playing. I get a lot of recognition when I play Liszt,”” he says.
That recognition for his talent has afforded him the opportunity to play before audiences in some of the greatest halls of music. Suslak took first place for the Golden Key Music and Arts Festival, where he played Concert Paraphrases of Rigoletto by Franz List, which he played at Carnegie Hall on May 8, 2004. Also in May he played at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. “”It was a lot of fun, enjoyable, and memorable,”” he says. “”It’s a place I have always wanted to play.””
He is also the winner of the Westminster Conservatory Scholarship for 2001 and 2003 and high honors winner for the New Jersey Teachers Association Competition for 1998 through 2003 and received his five-year trophy in May at the winner’s recital. He was also a participant in the fifth annual Andrew de Grado Piano Competition for 2003; winner of the sixth annual Cecilian Young Artist Competition (he played at the winners’ recital at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center on November 22, 2003); and first place winner in the American Fine Arts Festival.
Suslak also took the helm of musical director for two plays at Grover Middle School. In the sixth grade he was musical director for “”Peter Pan”” and loved it so much that he volunteered for the job for the eighth grade production of the “”Wizard of Oz,”” serving as the solo piano player for the musical. Most recently, he and three friends performed at the Grover Middle School Talent show. Also, just for this year, he is part of a three-person chamber group from Westminster Conservatory.
Suslak is the youngest of four children. He and his parents, Gerald and Renee, live on Blackhawk Court in West Windsor. His oldest brother Adam, 25, lives in Newark and is in medical school at UMDNJ studying to become an orthopedic surgeon; his brother David, 19, attends Syracuse University; and his sister Lauren, 22, attends Northeastern University.
He offers the following advice for anyone pursuing the piano. “”It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of time to become good, but once you do it pays off.””
– Eileen Koutnik
Summer Sounds Concert Series, West Windsor Senior Gazebo. All concerts are free and begin at 7 p.m. Www.wwparks-recreation.com/concerts.html.
Wednesday, June 30. Jonathan Sprout, performing his interactive children’s show.
Wednesday, July 7, Joshua Everett Andrew Suslak performing classical, show tunes, and rock.
Wednesday, July 14, swing music.
Wednesday, July 21, the Trenton Brass Quintet Plus 1 performing classical music and more.
Wednesday, July 28, jazz music with a touch of class.
Wednesday, August 4, Yosi’s children’s performance.
