UNCSA staff member Susan D. Santos-Mandel collaborates on Cynthia Erivo's new album
Susan D. Santos-Mandel, assistant director of High School Life at UNCSA, recently served as orchestra contractor for "I Forgive You," the new album by Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winner Cynthia
Erivo. Released on June 6 by Verve Records, the album features contributions from
UNCSA alumni Gavin Hardy (High School ’24) and Pierce Martin (M.F.A. ’23), both of
whom were selected by Santos-Mandel to perform during the album’s recording sessions.
As orchestra contractor, Santos-Mandel contracted a chamber orchestra of professional musicians for the project — a role that allowed her to spotlight talented UNCSA alumni, as she has done in past collaborations. Hardy, a bass player now studying at the Curtis Institute of Music, and Martin, a composer and orchestrator who also serves as a staff member in Residence Life, were excited to be part of the experience.
Santos-Mandel also performed the string parts live with Erivo on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" (CBS) and the "Today Show" (NBC). She has worked with Erivo in the past, and her work spans Broadway, television, film and commercial projects.
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June 6, 2025