Susan Rice

In 2025, Susan Rice became the Festival’s fourth Executive Director. Susan is a third generation Fairbanksan, born and raised here. Susan holds a BM in K-12 Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno, an MM in Choral Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles, and two post-graduate certificates in Finance and Executive Leadership respectively, from Cornell University. She has completed course work on an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership and Change Management from the University of Southern California.

Before moving into administration and leadership of non-profit organizations, Susan had a long career teaching K-12 music and performing on stages all over the west coast. In 2009, she awarded a Light of Education from the Ormsby County Educators Association, and was named the Music Educator of the Year by the Nevada Music Educator's Association. 

She has served as a Music and Arts Educator and Executive Leader in arts and educational nonprofits for the last 30 years. Additionally, Susan herself is a seasoned performer, conductor, director, and producer of choral, instrumental and theatrical productions for children and adults alike. Since Susan has returned to Fairbanks, she has been a regular performer in the Palace Theater's Second Saturday Cabaret series, mezzo-soprano soloist for the Northland Choral Arts "Messiah" and recently music and stage directed the FLOT/FSAF collaboration of "The Addams Family" musical in 2025 and the FSAF production of "Next to Normal" in 2026. She will be producing and co-directing Madagascar, Jr this fall for FSAF.

Susan is thrilled to be continuing and building on the long legacy of excellence with FSAF in her beloved hometown and surrounding community.