Dr. Susanna Mendlow

Susanna Mendlow is a versatile performer, arranger, and educator living in Washington D.C. She is a founding member of both Kassia Music and Cello, World and is the current cellist for QuinTango. Susanna plays a variety of musical styles, including western classical, ethnic folk, tango, and pop. As both a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Central Asia. 

Susanna was the recipient of several scholarships and awards, including teaching fellowships for both of her graduate degrees. She received her BA in psychology and music from Columbia University, her MM from Michigan State University (MSU), and her DMA from SUNY Stony Brook. During her graduate studies, Susanna and three classmates formed an experimental jazz and ethnic folk quartet that toured the US, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic as part of a project to build cross-cultural connections through music. Her doctoral paper, “Musical Transcription and Arrangement in the 21st Century: The Challenges of Reinterpreting a Traditional Bulgarian Folk Song”, uses a personal case study to explore the concept of authenticity in modern music performance. Susanna studied with Suren Bagratuni, Misha Quint, and Colin Carr.

As an educator, Susanna strives to provide a well-rounded music-learning experience, which includes exploring multiple genres, improvisation, and music theory in a supportive and engaging environment. From 2015 to 2019, Susanna served first as Administrative Director and then as Executive Director for Cellospeak, a non-profit devoted to the education of adult cellists. She continues her relationship with the organization as a member of the faculty, coaching small ensembles and teaching classes on technique, musicianship, stage fright, and improvisation. As a member of QuinTango, she works with string orchestra students both locally and abroad. Susanna also teaches cello in her private studio and piano at the Washington International School.

Currently, Susanna enjoys performing with her three main ensembles and teaching her varied students. In 2020, she earned an artist fellowship from the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities and an Emergent Seed award. In 2021, she received another DC artist fellowship as well as a community outreach project grant for DS al Cello. Her debut album, which features her cello arrangement of Mendelssohn’s third violin sonata and works for solo cello by Julia Adolphe and Noam Faingold, is scheduled for release in 2023.