SUZANNE CHEETHAM PILLINGER was born in the North of England. She studied at the Paris Conservatoire where she was awarded a Premier Prix in Piano and Chamber Music. She won 2nd Prize at the Olivier Messiaen International Piano Competition for contemporary music and subsequently gave recitals throughout Europe, the U.S.A. and Japan. She has played with the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra and has made numerous recordings and live broadcasts for B.B.C.Radio 3 and Radio France. SUZANNE CHEETHAM is now a distinguished piano teacher and has been a member of several international juries including the 2003 Messiaen competition in Paris. From 1985 - 1993 she taught at De Montfort University and for many years was an Associated Board examiner. Suzanne's involvement in the education of very young beginners and her frustration at the inability of these younger pupils to benefit from an early introduction to the pedal inspired her, in collaboration with her husband Edward (the renowned clarinet and saxophone mouthpiece maker) to design the A-Leg-Gro PED.

This brilliant teaching aid consists of an adjustable footrest which supports both feet comfortably and incorporates independently adjustable pedals which activate the piano's pedals from varying heights.