BIO
Suzanne is a five-time Grammy award-nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist who has released over 20 solo albums including "Seven Waves," and "The Velocity of Love," along with a landmark quad LP “LIVE Quadraphonic,” which restarted her Buchla modular performances. Her work has been featured in films, games, and countless commercials as well.
She was inducted into the first class of Keyboard Magazine's Hall of Fame alongside other synth luminaries, including Bob Moog, Don Buchla and Dave Smith and received the Moog Innovation Award. Most recently, she is the recipient of the Independent Icon Award from A2IM.
Suzanne has provided the voice and sounds for Bally's groundbreaking "Xenon" pinball machine, created Coca-Cola’s pop-and-pour sound, designed logos for Fortune 500 companies, and carved out a niche as one of the most creatively successful female composers in the world. A Life in Waves, a documentary about Ciani’s life and work, debuted at SXSW in 2017 and is available to watch on all digital platforms.
Ciani is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds a Masters in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2023 -- SEAMUS Award
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2022-2023 -- Herb Alpert Visiting Professorship
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2022 -- Golden Ear Award
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2020-- Suzanne Ciani received the A2IM Independent Icon Award
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2017-- Suzanne Ciani is the first woman to be awarded the Moog Innovation Award.
2015-- Suzanne Ciani awarded the prestigious Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley College - The highest honor given to alumnae for excellence and distinction in their fields of endeavor.
2014-- Kickstarter Project to make a feature-length documentary film about the life and career of Suzanne Ciani called “A Life in Waves.” Suzanne’s fans fully funded the production of the film through Kickstarter.
2013-- Suzanne Ciani inducted into the Pinball Expo Hall of Fame. Recognition for developing with Bally a pinball machine with a digital voice called Xenon.
2012 -- Suzanne Ciani inducted into the Keyboard Magazine's Hall of Fame.
2006 -- Suzanne Ciani Wins Napster Award: Most-Played Self-Published Artist, United Kingdom
2006 -- American Federation of Independent Music (Indie™) Winner -- "Silver Ship"
2001 -- MacDirectory Top Ten Award in recognition of Outstanding Vision, Leadership, and Performance
2000 -- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence (Grammy®) Nominee -- "Turning."
1998 -- American Federation of Independent Music (Indie™) Nominee -- "Turning"
1998 -- American Federation of Independent Music (Indie™) Nominee -- "Suzanne Ciani and The Wave: LIVE!"
1997 -- Lifetime Achievement Award (Granny) by the Women in Audio Section of the Audio and Engineering Society.
1997 -- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence (Grammy®) Nominee -- "Pianissimo II."
1996 -- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence (Grammy®) Nominee -- "Dream Suite."
1992 -- Keyboard Magazine Best New Age Keyboardist.
1991 -- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence (Grammy®) Nominee -- "Hotel Luna."
1988 -- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence (Grammy®) Nominee -- "Neverland."
1987 -- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (New York Chapter) Most Valuable Synthesizer Player Award.
1985 -- International Advertising Film Festival (Cannes) Bronze Lion Award for Excellence in Advertising.
1977-89 -- Numerous Clios (Awards for Excellence in Advertising).
1980 -- Ciani designs sounds for Xenon Pinball and becomes the first human female voice in a game
1980 -- Suzanne is the first woman hired to score a major Hollywood feature, "The Incredible Shrinking Woman," with Lily Tomlin. (Not until 1994 would another woman be hired by Hollywood!)
1977 -- Created the special electronic effects on the Buchla for platinum-selling Meco's Star Wars.
1976 -- National Endowment for the Arts Composer Grant. 1975 -- New York Creative Artists Public Service Grant.
1972 -- Ford Foundation Grant through the Mills College Center for Electronic Music.
1968-70 -- Hertz Memorial Fellowship in Music.