Sandra de Villiers

Sandra de Villiers (?–) is an opera producer and voice teacher.

Biography

Training

She studied at the University of Stellenbosch (BMus) and continued post-graduate studies in Lieder, Opera and Oratorio at the famous Mozarteum (Hochschule für Musik und Darstellenden Kunst), having won a scholarship to study in Salzburg.

Career

She lived in Austria for 10 years and there met her husband, fellow South African, Hein de Villiers. On their return to South Africa in 1979, she headed up the opera school at Technikon Natal (the first opera school in KwaZulu Natal) for 15 years. The opera school soon flourished and featured regular student productions. Hein became a music inspector, which brought him into contact with grassroots talent. Both were overwhelmed by the natural gifts and the enthusiasm they found and it was this which eventually led to the founding of Opera Africa, a non-profit company that provides pre-production training for conductors, directors, stage managers, technicians and singers.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Together with her husband, Hein de Villiers, she founded Opera Africa in 1995.

Awards, etc

In 1997, she received an FNB Vita Award for her contribution to opera in South Africa and recognition from Classic FM as one of the leading women in the field of SA Arts.