Biography
Dr. Ali holds degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Columbia University; University of California, Irvine; and San Diego State University. She has enjoyed performing in opera, oratorio, concert, musical theatre, and concert venues. Los Angeles Times critics exclaimed that in the title role in Carmen, “Ali is…the type of women who could make a bishop kick in a stained glass window…a charismatic singer with a rich, dark tone and ease of projection…the role doesn’t come any more passionate and seductive than Ali’s version.” As the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, LA critics noted she gave the entire production a jolt… “…energetic, with a clear, radiant voice…a fully developed and daring performance of comic ingenuity.” Other roles include Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti; Sally in Follies; Lucy, the beggar woman, in Sweeney Todd; Maria in The Sound of Music; Nancy in Oliver!; and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Featured with South Bay Opera, Orange County Opera, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Concordia Masterworks, Orchestra Irvine, Montage Orchestra, Dana Point Orchestra, and Pasadena Pops, Susan has enjoyed a variety of performing venues. Solo performance engagements include Mahler Symphonies No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4; Verdi Requiem; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; and the dramatic Witch of Endor in Honegger’s King David Oratorio. Ms. Ali performed as Mezzo-soprano soloist in the premiere of Under the Shadow, an oratorio for Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, and Choir, composed by Robert Denham, and conducted by Pacific Symphony Maestro, Carl St. Clair. She has sung as mezzo soloist in Falla’s El Amor Brujo, numerous Summer Pops concerts, and Handel’s Messiah all with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.
Dr. Ali has served on the Executive Board of the National Association of Teachers of Singing-Los Angeles Chapter, heading the Collegiate Auditions, the Young Artist Program, and the Student Evaluation Program. For the National Opera Association, Dr. Ali presented Pair Me a Parody, a program associating student learning of grand opera scenes by engaging first in parodies from light opera. Students joined her at the conference to perform excerpts from the program. Ms. Ali is a soloist/section leader at the Community Church, Congregational in Corona del Mar.