Her students include singers from high school through adult. Singing focus is on good foundational technique and applying this to singing songs from musical theatre, folk genre, commercial or classical repertoire! Students may participate in recitals and feedback forums, and competitions.

In addition to teaching through her home studio, Susan is on the voice faculty at both Concordia University and Orange Coast College, and has held posts at Gardner Webb University, Fullerton College, Chapman University, and as Associate Professor of Music and Vocal Area Coordinator at Cal Poly Pomona. Her work has encompassed private, college, and university-level applied voice, vocal pedagogy, diction for singers, and directing productions in musical theatre, opera, and operetta genres.

Dr. Ali holds advanced degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Columbia University and University of California, Irvine. She has enjoyed performing in opera, oratorio, 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.

As a featured soloist 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 participated as Mezzo-soprano soloist in the premiere of Under the Shadow (R. Denham), an oratorio for Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, and Choir 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, an informative program for student learning of grand opera by engaging first in parodies from light opera. Students joined her at the conference to perform excerpts from the program. Susan is a soloist/section leader at the Community Church, Congregational in Corona del Mar.