Dr Sue Carson

Professional expertise

Dr Susan Carson was appointed University of Newcastle Conservatorium Coordinator in January 2024 and was awarded a PhD (Music) in April 2024. Sue’s scholarly work draws heavily on her lengthy and extensive career in music performance in a variety of genres. She is classically trained in voice and violin and continues this classical performance in tandem with a contemporary music career.

Since winning the Newcastle Conservatorium Doris Smith Scholarship for classical voice in 1997, which enabled her to study in London with Victor Morris (English National Opera), Sue has shown her versatility in national and regional performances in a diversity of scenarios including contemporary ensembles, opera, oratorio, musicals, jazz, and orchestras before and during her position as an academic. Sue sustains a very active performance portfolio and has an extensive network of industry colleagues, and her performance and academic career in music has helped forge deep and productive industry connections within the musical community.

Research Expertise

Sue is currently leading a research project called The Future of Music Education: Student Engagement and Pathways in Music.

This project is investigating student, alumni and educator perspectives on student engagement in senior secondary school and tertiary level music programs, and University of Newcastle Bachelor of Music alumni perspectives on their degree. In addition, researchers are investigating the regional music industry employment landscape for recent music graduates. The purpose of this research is to identify factors that can both positively contribute to students’ experiences of music programs and assist in developing sustainable pathways for students from senior secondary school to university and into the music industry.

Sue completed a Bachelor of Arts in French and Drama in 1992 and Licentiate Diploma of Music (LMusA) in Classical Singing in 2010. Her doctoral thesis, awarded in April 2024, explores the performance practice of female multi-genre singers and associated pedagogies. Sue applies her stellar experience in music performance and music scholarship to her teaching, lecturing in music performance and the University of Newcastle. Sue often conducts workshops for school students and has been engaged as a presenter by music associations such as the NSW Music Teachers Association (MTA) and Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS).

In her research and practice, Sue relies on recent empirical evidence in the area of vocal performance and pedagogy which suggests there is a dearth of research on singing methods from the perspective of practitioners. Sue’s creative performance work involves the synchronous exploration and combination of a variety of vocal and instrumental styles including opera, music theatre, pop, rock, jazz, soul, folk and bluegrass. Embracing this approach to performance and relying on teaching multiple genres of voice, Sue has developed a vocal technique and pedagogy that is at the centre of her research. Sue is constantly self-reflecting on her practice, evaluating the challenges inherent in the rare practice of singing a variety of styles on a regular basis, and draws on this reflection to convey and adapt knowledge for her students.

For her doctoral thesis, titled "Sensational Synthesis: An investigation of the art of the female professional singer's performance of multiple vocal genres", Sue developed a major creative work in the production of a recorded album of 13 original songs. All vocal tracks were written or arranged and performed by herself and represent a variety of genres.  An exegesis accompanying the creative work analysed the creative and technical processes involved from the practitioner perspective in singing multiple genres. The album will be released in late 2024.

Professional highlights

The proliferation of vocal and instrumental performance, theatrical roles and recording Sue has undertaken throughout her career richly informs her teaching and research.

Sue’s coloratura soprano performances include Mozart’s Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute Strauss’s Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and Cunegonde in Bernstein’s Candide. 

Sue played Heloise in the debut performances of original production Abelard and Heloise by Ross Fiddes and Paul Kavanagh.

Sue has been a featured soloist in oratorio and choral works such as Orff's Carmina Burana and Handel's Messiah.

In music theatre, Sue has played numerous roles including Margaret White in Cohen and Pitchford’s Carrie the Musical, Cunegonde in Bernstein’s Candide, Mrs Lovett in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Carrie in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel and Mrs Peachum in Weill's Threepenny Opera. 

Her pop/celtic/bluegrass/rock performances include with award-winning folk/rock band Sligo Maid (to 1999) and current band Love That Hat (formed in 1994).

As a member of the award-winning Bob Corbett Band and the Roo Grass Band, Sue plays fiddle and mandolin and sings backing vocals. The band has four Golden Guitar nominations, has toured nationally and has had extensive radio airplay on Country Music Channel and top ten songs on the CMC country charts.

Sue has played on dozens of recordings and has played and sung for Australia's elite country stars such as Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, The McClymonts, Sara Storer, Adam Harvey, The Adam Eckersley Band, Amber Lawrence and The Bushwackers.

Professional recognition

Sue has been nominated for several CONDAs (City of Newcastle Drama Awards) including as best professional actress as Beatrice in Hunter Valley Theatre Company’s The Venetian Twins (1996), Susanna in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (2004), and best supporting actress as Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Magic Flute (2009). 

Sue was chosen as one of 16 singers nationwide for The Ronald Dowd Summer School for Singers, 2000 Advanced Singers Mastercourse with tutors Victor Morris, Christa Leahmann and Geoffrey Chard in Sydney.

Sue won the ABC Newcastle Music Award for Best Female Vocalist in 2003. 

Teaching Expertise

Sue has extensive experience in teaching music students in school, university and community settings.

As an Associate Lecturer of voice and contemporary performance at the University of Newcastle, she currently teaches Collaborative Music Making Courses (Semesters 1-4), Sound Music and Texture, and supervises music students’ projects in the Creative Industries Professional Project Course. In recent years, Sue has taught courses in related disciplines such as Engaging in the Music Industry, Performing Arts course Vocal Fundamentals and Techniques and Design Thinking.