Sandra's Biography

When Sandra hits the stage, you know you are in for a treat. This “pretty and petite dynamo is a consummate entertainer”. Born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, she has been performing professional Musical Theatre and Jazz for over fifteen years. Her love of music began at a very young age; inspired by her Grandmothers who were singers and her Grandfather who played piano, clarinet, and violin.

Following her training at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in English, Sandra's professional theatre career was launched when she was cast in the role of Edith in The Pirates of Penzance at The Drayton Festival Theatre, directed by Alex Mustakas. Subsequently, she returned to Drayton to perform in The Mikado and Vaudeville! Sandra continued her stage career in Grand Bend, Ontario performing at Huron Country Playhouse in Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof and The Secret Garden.

Sandra proudly joined the cast of the Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera and for five fantastic years, performed the roles of the Princess and understudied Carlotta at the beautiful Pantages Theatre. During that time, she had the good fortune to work with many gifted performers including the incomparable talents of Phantoms, Jeff Hyslop, Rene Simard, Peter Karrie and Paul Stanley of the rock group Kiss.

Although the demands of performing eight shows a week were taxing, Sandra found time to expand on her Jazz career and recorded with Juno Award winning Producer/Arranger Peter Mann, producer for The Nylons, world-renowned a cappella group. Her Demo CD features Eric Robertson on Piano, and Roberto Occhipinti on Bass.

Sandra has enjoyed sharing the stage with many wonderful musicians from around the world, including the Oakville Jazz Ensemble, featured at the Canadian National Exhibition and the Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival. Oakville Today said, “She bestows emphatic sensitivity to the lyrics, making us feel each song carries a message specifically for us”.

Sandra toured extensively with Toronto's Smile Theatre Company in shows written and directed by internationally known singer/actor/comedian Tom Kneebone. Since the passing of Mr. Kneebone, a friend and mentor, her work with Smile continued when she took the role of playwright and director for several Smile shows. A favourite being Everything's Coming Up Rosie, a tribute to one of her idols, Rosemary Clooney.

Sandra is currently hard at work on a new play, Jack of all Trades, a comedy in which three long-time friends embark on a "Creative Wellness" weekend retreat.  Romance and laughter ensue when they encounter Jack, who is only too happy to fill their "creative wells"!

In the role of Songwriter, Sandra has collaborated on many tunes with composer/arranger Randy Broten, of The Bronte Sound Project. Their unique blend of Folk, Pop and Country styles will be combined on a soon to be released album of original songs including the title track, Goody 2 Shoes Blues.

Since arriving in the UAE several years ago, Sandra has entertained extensively at corporate events with a variety of Jazz musicians, including performances at Emirates Palace, Yas Island Hotel and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel to name a few.

Her work in the voice over industry can be heard across the Middle East and Africa advertising everything from Bloomingdales to Xerox. She is the voice of "The Cow" in La Vache Qui Rit, an animated online game for children and has done promotional TV ads for countless programmes including Grey's Anatomy, Glee, 30 Rock and Cougar Town.

When not in the studio or onstage, Sandra continues her "Tour of a Lifetime", traveling the globe with her pilot husband, Dave. Together they have explored Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and points beyond!