Obituary of Susan Dubin

Susan Dubin, 76, passed away on Sunday, January 31st, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Margaret Korpell, and her son Matthew, and is survived by her son Jonas (Mallory Olsen) of Minneapolis, her husband Nathaniel (separated) of Brooklyn Park, her brother, Dr. Herbert Korpell of Emeryville CA, and nieces Nicole Korpell of Oakland CA and Lila Korpell of Benecia, CA.

Susan was born September 13th, 1944, in Chicago, IL and raised in Rochester, NY. She graduated from Irondequoit HS and the Preparatory Department of the Eastman School of Music. She graduated from Cornell University in 1966 with a BA in Classical Chinese and went on to study at Yale University.

Susan resided 44 years in St. Cloud, where she was an avid chamber musician and prominent member of the music community, most notably as executive director of the Chamber Music Society of Saint Cloud (CMS). One of its volunteer founders along with Michael Barone and Randy Bourne, she took over as president and eventually executive director after Minnesota Public Radio moved to St. Paul. During her 34-year association with the organization, she was responsible for nearly all aspects of its operations, including planning seasons, booking, scheduling, programing, venues, introducing artists and arranging for their housing, meals and transportation, printing tickets, designing brochures, advertising, community outreach, fund raising, etc. She wrote countless grants, not one of which was turned down. In addition to grants to underwrite CMS concerts, she received grants to attend workshops and conferences in arts management and promotion as well as chamber music residencies in various communities. She was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including the first St. Cloud Mayor’s High-Five Award and Chamber Music America’s CMAcclaim Award.

Susan served as a review panelist for both the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Chamber Music America and was named to the National Leadership Council of the latter organization and has been a grant reader for COMPAS. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of the New Friends of Chamber Music (Minneapolis) and of United Arts of Central Minnesota.

A talented amateur violinist and violist, Susan played in several local string quartets and larger ensembles, including the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, where she was on the Board of Directors and served as orchestra manager, and SJU/CSB’s Amadeus Chamber Orchestra. She regularly attended chamber music workshops in the United States and abroad.

Memorials may be made to the Chamber Music Society of St Cloud and the Musicians’ Relief Fund of the American Federation of Musicians. A remembrance is being planned for early 2022.