Steinway Artist, Susan Merdinger has been internationally acclaimed in prestigious newspapers and journals for her stunning performances, particularly noted for her recordings of Schumann, Brahms, and Beethoven. Among her many honors, Merdinger is a two-time First Prize Winner of the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition in Professional Solo and Duo Piano, Gold Medalist of the Global Music Awards, Winner of the Dewar’s Young Artists Award in Music, Winner of the Artists International Young Musicians Competition, and 2nd Prize Winner in the American Prize for Chamber Music. Performing her sold-out solo recital debut in Carnegie Recital Hall at age twenty-four, Merdinger has continued to grace the stages of some of the world’s best concert halls. She has appeared as soloist with professional orchestras such as the Chicago Philharmonic, the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico and the Northbrook Symphony and has been a frequent Visiting Artist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series. Merdinger’s live performances and recordings have been broadcast worldwide on WQXR, WFMT, BRT-3 (Belgian National Radio), and BBC Television. Merdinger received her formal education at Yale University, the Yale School of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music.
Susan Merdinger, Conductor
Steinway Artist, Susan Merdinger, is a prize-winning, internationally acclaimed concert pianist and a professionally-trained orchestra and choral conductor. She studied conducting under Otto Werner Mueller and Robert Kapilow while receiving her B.A. and M.M. degrees at Yale University and the Yale School of Music. She also received early training in piano and conducting from Michael Pollon, a protege of George Szell. Merdinger is currently the Founder and Music Director of Sheridan Solisti Chamber Orchestra, which was established out of her desire to conduct some of the great symphonic and chamber orchestra masterworks she has performed as a duo-pianist, as well as lesser-known “hidden gems” and new contemporary music composed by her colleagues. The SSCO mission is to also feature members of the orchestra as soloists in concerti with the orchestra. Merdinger has also previously been Music Director for many Houses of Worship, conducting choirs as well as small ensembles.
International Steinway Artist, Visiting Artist of the Chicago Symphony