Susan Blaese

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Susan Blaese is adjunct faculty in orchestra at Elmhurst, where she conducts the Varsity Strings, coaches chamber ensembles and teaches private lessons for the Community Music program.

Ms. Blaese taught for 33 years in School District 23, Prospect Heights, Illinois from 1980-2013. She is an active guest conductor and clinician for workshops and festivals throughout the Midwest region. Susan Blaese received her bachelors degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied violin with Virginia Farmer and Paul Rolland. She holds a masters degree in educational administration and supervision, also from the U of I. Blaese was named Outstanding School Orchestra Director of the Year by the Illinois American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and she received the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award given by Quinlan and Fabish Music Company. She was the orchestra director for over 25 years at Epworth Forest Choir School, a high school and adult church choir camp at Anderson University. In addition, Ms. Blaese served for ten years as treasurer of Illinois ASTA.

As a violinist, she was a member of the Dubuque Symphony (Iowa) from 1980–2001, and is currently performing with the Harper Community Orchestra in Palatine, IL. Susan lives with her husband in Barrington, IL, and enjoys golf and horseback riding in her spare time.