Later, she became the drama teacher at Salpointe Catholic High School; passing her experience in stagecraft to the next generation, directing many popular and critically acclaimed productions along the way. She accrued numerous personal accolades, including Southern Arizona Drama Teacher of the Year in 2012, the National High School Musical Theater Awards Southern Arizona Best Director and Best Show in 2014, and Best Show in 2016. Working with Arts Express, she hopes to move to another stage in her career: broadening her outreach to the larger community, with productions that build bridges, foster empathy, and perhaps create a little magic.

As a singer, Susan’s appearances in over 40 opera, operetta, musical theater and orchestral works across the US have garnered both critical acclaim and popular appeal for her warm, lovely voice, effortless singing and immediate believability. Favorite roles include Violeta in La Traviata, Mim in La Boheme , Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Lady Shayne in Noel Coward’s Bittersweet, and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus. One highlight among many was her appearance as a part of San Francisco Opera’s 75th Anniversary Celebrations. She brings this extensive experience to her voice studio, imparting solid vocal technique, dramatic ability, languages, and musical skills. Susan works with students of all levels. Locally, Susan directed the successful Opera on the Streetcar for the Opera Guild of Southern Arizona, including a popular first time flash mob opera chorus on Tucson’s Streetcar. She has written, produced, and directed several children’s shows. She also produced ‘Sounds of hope, a benefit concert boasting over 140 musicians from The University of Arizona, Tucson Boys Chorus, members of the Tucson Symphony and chorus which benefited Habitat for Humanity‘s work in Sri Lanka after the tsunami of 2004.

Simone began dancing at the age of 7, she continued training over the years with workshops and conventions across the country with high-end choreographers - Savion Glover, Mandy Moore, Paula Abdul, JT Hornstein, Denise Leitner and many others. Currently Simone is in her 13th year at Salpointe Catholic High School and 5th year choreographing for Arts Express. Simone’s professional achievements include work with Salpointe Pomline, Dance Force-1 Productions, Gaslight Theater and Danswest Productions and the 2001, 2005 and 2009 Link Cotillions. She thanks her husband Scot, children Lincoln and Maxine and her mother, for their support and love.