Suzanne Tirk is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in clarinet performance at Michigan State University. She completed her master's degree in performance from Michigan State University and received her bachelor's degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. As a member of the Shattuck Wind Quintet, Suzanne has won numerous awards including first prize at the Carmel Chamber Music Competition and Wisconsin Neale-Silva Young Artist Competition. Most recently, she has been the recipient of the Stephan and Josephine Ludwig Memorial Scholarship, the Kenneth Bloomquist Scholarship, and was a guest performer and clinician at the 2002 International Clarinet and Saxophone Festival in Xi'an, China. Suzanne has held positions on the faculties of Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Montana State University, Albion College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Spring Arbor College. Her teachers have included Fan Lei, Richard Faria, Theodore Oien, Charles Neidich, and Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr.