Suzanne Ciani: Sound Lounge [09/19/25]

Five-time Grammy Award nominee Suzanne Ciani graduated from Wellesley College in 1968 and went onto an illustrious career as an electronic music innovator, composer, and recording artist with more than 20 solo albums. Her work has been featured in films, games, and numerous commercials. Suzanne Ciani: Sound Lounge offers an opportunity to step inside her sonic world as part of Wellesley College’s 150th anniversary celebration. It opens September 19 and runs through December 14, 2025 and again from February 6, 2026 through May 24, 2026.

Ciani released her first record, Seven Waves, in 1982. Its dreamy evocation of ocean waves through the soundwaves that Ciani created on the Buchla synthesizer would gain great popularity and critical acclaim first in Japan, next in the United States, and finally worldwide.

In 1986, the title track of Ciani’s next album, The Velocity of Love, became a radio phenomenon and helped to launch the first New Age radio stations. Its romantic songs invite contemplation–and connection. Her third album, Neverland, was released in 1988.

Ciani 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. She received the Moog Innovation Award, the Independent Icon Award from the American Association of Independent Music, and most recently, the 2023 SEAMUS Award for electroacoustic music. Ciani provided the voice and designed sounds for Bally's groundbreaking Xenon pinball machine, created Coca-Cola’s iconic 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.

In addition to her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Wellesley College, Ciani holds a Master's in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley.

This solo exhibition highlights an exemplary alumna during Wellesley’s 150th anniversary, as we honor an extraordinary history, look forward to an exciting future, and celebrate the College’s enduring commitment to providing an excellent education to women who will make a difference in the world.

“It’s an honor to offer an opportunity for visitors to experience the transporting sounds in Suzanne Ciani’s work. We are especially excited for students of electronic music to analyze her groundbreaking musical and technological innovations–and to be inspired to create their own compositions,” said Dr. Amanda Gilvin who organized the experience for the Davis as the Museum’s Interim Co-Director, Sonja Novak Koerner '51 Senior Curator of Collections, and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs.

Suzanne Ciani: Sound Lounge is presented in collaboration with the Wellesley College Music Department Concert Series and is generously supported by the Mellon Academic Programs Fund.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Suzanne Ciani will be performing Improv on Four Sequences at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 19 in Jewett Auditorium as part of the Wellesley College Music Department Concert Series. According to Music Program and Concert Manager Felicity Salmon, “Suzanne Ciani’s influence on electronic music and sound design is both profound and far-reaching. Her work has redefined what’s possible with electronic instruments—particularly the Buchla modular system. Beyond her performances and recordings, she’s shaped the sound of modern media through groundbreaking commercial and interactive audio work. For musicians and sound artists alike, her legacy continues to inspire exploration, innovation, and artistry in sound.”

There are three other concurrent exhibitions at the Davis in celebration of the 150th anniversary: In Focus: Wellesley College Faculty Artists, Digging Into History: The Wellesley College Hall Archeology Project; and The Worlds of Ilse Bing, for which Ciani generously donated her own collection of photographs of the famed photographer.

Among the events planned for the four exhibitions are:

September 18, 2025: A Conversation Between Suzanne Ciani '68 and Carrie Cushman

September 18, 2025: Opening Celebration

September 19, 2025: A Concert by Suzanne Ciani '68. Hosted by the Music Department in collaboration with the Davis Museum

October 7, 2025: Curatorial Tour of The Worlds of Ilse Bing

October 7, 2025: In Focus Artist Roundtable

November 19, 2025: Curatorial Tour of Digging Into History: The Wellesley College Hall Archaeology Project

Look for more events during the Spring 2026 semester.

The Davis Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 781-283-2051 or visit https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/visit/directions.

ABOUT THE DAVIS MUSEUM

A vital resource for communities on the Wellesley College campus and beyond, the Davis Museum is one of the oldest and most acclaimed academic fine art museums in the United States. Its signature Rafael Moneo building houses collections that span the history of art worldwide, from antiquity to the present. Guided by commitments to diversity and inclusion, excellence and innovation, and access for all, the Davis is at the core of Wellesley’s liberal arts mission of educating women to make a difference in the world. With exceptional encyclopedic holdings, rotating special exhibitions, and enriching public programs, the Davis warmly welcomes all visitors, including scholars and students of all ages. For visitor information: https://www.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/visit/directions.

ABOUT WELLESLEY COLLEGE AND THE ARTS

The Wellesley College arts curriculum and the highly acclaimed Davis Museum are integral components of the College’s liberal arts education. Departments and programs from across the campus enliven the community with world-class programming– classical and popular music, visual arts, theatre, dance, author readings, symposia, and lectures by some of today’s leading artists and creative thinkers–most of which are free and open to the public.

Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Its 500-acre campus near Boston is home to some 2,400 undergraduate students from 49 states and 58 countries.

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