Dr. Susan Boettger is a pianist, chamber musician, composer, and music educator based in Irvine, California. She is Professor of Music and Piano and Chamber Music Area Coordinator at Irvine Valley College, Artistic Director of the IVC Keyboard & Chamber Music Series, and Founder and Executive Director of Junior Chamber Music. 

At IVC, Boettger teaches piano, chamber music, and music appreciation and created the Piano Pedagogy program to prepare pianists for careers as teachers. Her work connects rigorous musical training with practical teaching experience, performance opportunities, and a welcoming path into music for students of all ages. Her students have transferred to institutions including UCLA, USC, California State University, Fullerton, California State University, Long Beach, and Rice University. 

An active soloist and chamber musician, Boettger won The Juilliard School’s Contemporary Concerto Competition and performed with the New Juilliard Ensemble at Lincoln Center. Her concerto appearances include performances with the Ventura, Conejo, Peninsula, and Pasadena symphonies and the Orange County Chamber Orchestra. She performs with iTRIO alongside violinist JinHee Kim and cellist Marek Szpakiewicz. Her interest in contemporary music also includes her work with the Classical Edge Trio and its recording, Edge, featuring original compositions and premieres. 

Boettger creates educational concerts that combine performance with engaging commentary, helping audiences hear the stories, structure, and expressive possibilities within the music. She has presented these programs at Irvine Valley College, Saddleback College, Azusa Pacific University, and the Colburn Chamber Music Intensive, where she has also spoken about chamber music. She is active as an adjudicator, master class teacher, clinician, and speaker, with judging engagements including the Seattle International Piano Competition and Music Teachers’ Association of California Orange Branch festivals. 

Founded in 2002, Junior Chamber Music has grown to six branches across Southern California, from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Through JCM, Boettger develops coaching, concerts, master classes, community outreach, and international performance tours that help young musicians become thoughtful collaborators. She also founded Lyceum Village, an enrichment program bringing music, academics, and athletics together to support students and working families. 

Boettger holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, and both a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rice University. She also holds a mathematics teaching credential and taught high school mathematics for seven years. 

Across her performing, teaching, composing, and artistic leadership, Boettger advocates for music as a lifelong pursuit, one that can begin at any age and continue well beyond formal lessons.