Susan's Story
Susan Merdinger: A Journey from Prodigy to Renowned Pianist, Conductor and Educator
Susan Merdinger's musical journey began before she was even born, with the strains of classical piano music filling the air. The daughter of a talented pianist and painter, Susan inherited her mother’s artistic sensibilities and her father’s mathematical mind and large hands—qualities that made playing the piano feel as natural as breathing. However, it was her unyielding passion, tireless work ethic, and deep commitment to music that truly shaped her extraordinary abilities.
Starting with lessons from her mother at the age of two, Susan’s formal education began at six. By the age of seven, she knew with certainty that she wanted to become a pianist and a composer, famously writing in her hand-penned diary: “I always want to be a famous pianist and a composer.” Though she has never wavered in her determination to be a concert pianist, her focus has always been on becoming the best musician she can be—fame was never the ultimate goal.
Interestingly, while Susan’s true calling was always the piano, her teachers encouraged her to explore other musical avenues. Her flute teachers, including Harold Jones, inspired her to pursue the flute, and later, the opportunity to study chamber music with the legendary Thomas Nyfenger further broadened her musical horizons. As early as twelve, she was performing in symphony orchestras as both a flutist and a keyboardist.
Throughout her youth, Susan won numerous prizes, which led her to study at prestigious institutions such as Yale University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Fontainebleau School of Music in France. There, she studied with some of the most renowned concert pianists and pedagogues from both the U.S. and Europe. Her relentless pursuit of excellence garnered her many accolades, culminating in a stunning debut at Carnegie Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and various venues across Europe, where she received unanimous praise from prestigious publications.
Today, Susan is not only an acclaimed performer but also an inspiring educator, conductor and a loving mother to three prize-winning professional musicians, who have followed in her footsteps and made their own mark on the national and international music scene as performers and composers.
Whether performing before an intimate crowd of 100 or a grand audience of 1000, Susan captivates listeners with electrifying, rhapsodic performances that are as magical as they are edge-of-your-seat thrilling. Her music has the power to steal your heart, lift your spirits, and soothe your soul.
Note: Not for use as a Program Bio.
Professional Photos
Rhapsody in Blue- Gown by Faviana Photo by Mike Canale
Photo by Carlos Chinchilla 02/2015; Gown by Aidan Mattox
Carnegie Hall 2012 Photo by Roccio Marcelli
Steinway Artist- Regal in Red. Photo by Mike Canale
Photo by Kristin Kuhlmann
Photo by Mike Canale
Susan and Steinway
Full Biography
American Pianist Susan Merdinger is a dynamic and internationally acclaimed artist known for her expressive performances, innovative programming, and diverse musical voice. Hailed by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung for her "daring, enormously joyous presentation," Merdinger's artistry has been compared to legendary pianists such as Leonard Bernstein, Annie Fischer, and Nadia Reisenberg. Fanfare Magazine (2014) praised her "exquisitely detailed and full of life" recordings, particularly her celebrated Carnival album.
A celebrated soloist, Merdinger made her debut at Carnegie Recital Hall at just 24, after winning the prestigious Artists International competition. Since then, she has performed in some of the world’s leading venues, including Merkin Concert Hall, Sala Felipe Villanueva in Mexico, the Scottish National Orchestra Centre, Diligentia Hall, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Her international debut recital tour, sponsored by the International Concert Administration, took her across Europe, earning her recognition as a performer of exceptional skill and artistry.
Her performances have been featured on major broadcasts such as WQXR, WFMT, and BBC Television, and she has appeared as a guest artist on The Listening Room and Impromptu. Merdinger’s music has resonated with audiences worldwide, including performances for high-profile dignitaries and celebrities, such as John F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Governors of Connecticut and New York.
Merdinger’s festival appearances include the Chautauqua, Norfolk, Fontainebleau, Summit and Burgos International Music Festival in Spain, where she has garnered acclaim for her performances in both recitals and concerts. A passionate advocate for contemporary music, she has championed works by renowned composers like Morton Gould, Augusta Read Thomas, Gabriela Lena Frank, Margarita Zelenaia, Elbio Barilari, Jeremy Beck, Ilya Levinson, and Aaron Alter, some of whose works have been dedicated to her.
In addition to her solo career, Merdinger enjoys an active role as a chamber musician, performing with internationally recognized artists and orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, and members of the New York Philharmonic. She has also collaborated with renowned violinists like Ilya Kaler, David Yonan, and Michaela Paetsch, and has performed more than thirty piano concertos under the direction of esteemed conductors such as Gabriela Diaz Alatriste, Francesco Milioto, Mina Zikri, Mattia Rondelli, Glenn Cortese and Lawrence Rapchak.
Of particular note is her longtime devotion to duo and multi piano repertoroire. Susan has enjoyed a longtime duo piano career with her husband Steven Greene, Music Director and Organist at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Susan and Steve met at the Yale School of Music, where they were affectionately dubbed "the Dynamic Duo." Now celebrating their 40th anniversary as musical and life partners, the duo continues to enchant audiences with their powerful artistry, chemistry, and distinctive programming. Additionally, Susan is a Founder of Pianissimo!, Chicago’s Premier Four Piano Ensemble, comprised of four women pianists, specializing in music by female composers and arrangers as well as novel arrangements for four pianos and two pianos-eight hands.
Winners of two Global Music Awards, and First Prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International piano Competition Professional Duo Division, the Merdinger-Greene Duo has performed across the United States and abroad, presenting a wide range of repertoire from the classical canon to contemporary works and original arrangements.
Their signature programs-Famous Themes on Two Pianos and Romantic Reverie-showcase not only their virluosity and synchronicity, but also their creativity and commitment to accessible, meaningful programming for audiences of alI ages. Together, they exemplify a rare artistic partnership grounded in love, intellect, and a shared passion for music.
Merdinger’s 2023-2024 season highlights included performances with her Sheridan Solisti Trio and the Highland Park Strings, as well as conducting the Northshore Chamber Orchestra in special concert programs. Two highlights of 2025-2026 were performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Northbrook Symphony and Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos with the Highland Park Strings. In 2026-2027, Susan will launch her new specially curated concert series, Sanctuary Sounds™️, with specially curated concerts at various houses of worship in Chicago.
A noted recording artist, Merdinger has released over eleven albums, including American Melting Pot and French Fantasy, both of which have received rave reviews in publications like Fanfare Magazine and American Record Guide. Winner of The American Prize's Lorin Hollander Award in 2020, her performances continue to captivate listeners with their passion and inimitable style. In addition, she has earned two gold medals from the Global Music Awards, further solidifying her status as an artist of international acclaim.
A dedicated conductor, Merdinger brings an extraordinary breadth of experience to the podium, developed through decades of performing as a soloist, duo pianist, and chamber musician. Her conducting journey began under the mentorship of Robert Kapilow and Otto Werner Mueller at Yale University and the Yale School of Music. Known for her innovative programming and deep musical knowledge, Merdinger has guest-conducted numerous esteemed orchestras and has a substantial orchestral repertoire. Her vision for Sheridan Solisti reflects her lifelong commitment to fostering new music and mentoring young artists.
Merdinger’s education includes degrees and diplomas from Yale University, the Yale School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Ecole Normale de Musique in Fontainebleau, France. Her teachers included such “Steinway Immortals”- Claude Frank, Ozan Marsh, Constance Keene, and Gaby Casadesus, and Walter Hautzig, as well as distinguished piano pedagogues Ward Davenny, Seymour Lipkin and Michael Pollon.
In addition to her performing career, Merdinger is an Artist Faculty member at the Summit Music Festival and the Burgos International Music Festival, and is the founder of Sheridan Music Studio, which encompasses a private music studio, record label, and live-streaming platform. A Steinway Artist since 2012, Merdinger continues to captivate audiences and nurture the next generation of musicians, blending her unparalleled technical mastery with a profound emotional depth that sets her apart as a transformative artist and educator.
April 2026