The Emerald Duo explores the unusual repertoire of original compositions for violin and violoncello and is always interested in discovering new pieces for this unusual musical combination, often commissioning and premiering pieces by American composers. Since 1986 the duo has played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and performs to critical acclaim in Europe on a regular basis. In addition, the duo has been featuring music of the Holocaust for many years and has given lecture recitals throughout the U.S. and Canada on the music and conditions of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. 

The duo are co-directors of the Musica Viva chamber music series in California’s Central Valley. They spend their summers teaching and performing in Europe and participating in the Victoria (TX) Bach Festival and Durango (CO) Chamber Music Festival.

Both members of the Emerald Duo have taught at numerous universities and have had great success as active performers, pedagogues, competition jurors, and recording artists in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. The couple has been residing in Auberry, CA since 2001. The name “The Emerald Duo” was chosen as both musicians were born in the month of May. The birthstone for May is the Emerald.

The Emerald Duo is available for concerts, masterclasses and workshops, adjudications, residencies, and school presentations. Please visit their website for further information.

Violinist Susan Doering enjoys a multi-faceted life as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestral player, and conductor. She also teaches, does clinics, and adjudicates competitions around the USA.  She has lived in, traveled to, or performed in 48 out of 50 states (the exceptions being Alaska and Florida) and Washington DC and also in many parts of Mexico and Canada. She has recorded many CDs for a variety of labels, including Albany, Centaur, harmonia mundi, and Artisie4.

Susan received her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Southern California, also playing in five regional orchestras and a variety of studios.  At the University of Michigan she received her Master of Music degree and played in the regional orchestras of Toledo, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw, and Adrian (as concertmaster).  In addition to playing chamber music at many embassies in Washington DC and performing with local orchestras she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Susan was a tenured associate professor at Missouri State University, was on the faculty at Arizona State University, and also taught at Fresno State University. She plays on a violin made for her by Robert Clemens of St. Louis, modeled after a 1742 Guarneri del Gesu (built in Cremona, Italy).

Currently Dr. Doering travels extensively in the USA and Europe, playing a diversity of chamber music concerts, and performing in many regional orchestras (Sequoia Symphony as concertmaster, Fresno Philharmonic, Stockton, Monterey and others).  She teaches violin and viola at Fresno Pacific University and also has a private violin/viola studio.

Also a board-certified Music Therapist, she maintains a private practice in the Central Valley, working with a variety of clients, including stroke victims, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, pain management clients, and issues regarding health and wellness.

Dieter Wulfhorst, violoncellist, has performed extensively in more than twenty states in the United States, and in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. After holding faculty positions at various universities in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and California, Dr. Wulfhorst is now a member of the “Freeway Philharmonic”, every week playing with a different orchestra. He is a member of the Santa Rosa Symphony; principal cellist of the Bakersfield Symphony; and performs regularly with numerous other professional orchestras, including Sacramento, Monterey, Fresno, Modesto, and Stockton.

Dieter is the co-director (with Susan Doering) of Musica Viva, an organization that offers free chamber music concerts throughout California’s Central Valley. He spends his summers performing and teaching at music festivals in Texas, Colorado, and Germany.

Born and raised in Germany, Dieter studied with Friedrich-Jürgen Sellheim in Hannover. As a prize-winner in the nationwide youth competition "Jugend musiziert," he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany from 1976 to 1979. Wulfhorst played in the professional orchestras of Hannover (State Opera and Radio), Göttingen, and Hildesheim before coming to the U.S. to continue his studies with Evelyn Elsing and the Guarneri Quartet at the University of Maryland at College Park where he earned both his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.

Among Dieter’s compact discs are cello duets by Jacques Offenbach, Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, Ernest Bloch’s Three Nocturnes, and compositions by Thomas Bramel.  Dieter has also recorded chamber works by Clara Kathleen Rogers, Handel Sonatas arranged for saxophone and basso continuo, and music by Tarik O’Regan with the professional vocal ensemble “Conspirare” (nominated for two Grammy® awards).

Dieter plays a cello crafted by Giovanni Battista Rogeri (Brescia, 1693).  For further information on his recordings, concerts, and other activities visit his website.