Susan Bender comes to ACO with a wide and deep association in the music world.

As Founding Executive Vice President of American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra she established, along with Zubin Mehta, the United States presence and created its Board and profile. Her success resulted in relationships and leadership with Kurt Masur and the American Friends of the Mendelssohn Foundation, American Friends of the Salzburg Easter Festival with Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle, American Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra with Ivan Fischer and American Friends of the St. Petersburg Orchestra with Yuri Temirkanov.

Susan served as Vice President of External Affairs at Manhattan School of Music where, along with Marta Istomin, she designed and executed the $50 million capital campaign for the new building and a greatly increased scholarship endowment. Her career includes senior development positions at The Jewish Theological Seminary and Yeshiva University. She also worked as a Vice President at Bernstein Global Wealth Management and Merrill Lynch. 

Academically, Susan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in Art History and Romance Languages. She did supplemental studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and Sarah Lawrence College in Florence, Italy. Susan continues her interest in art and has a deep background in classical ballet. 

Her passion for music fuels her desire to partner with Melissa Ngan and use her skills to propel ACO into the future.