We recently connected with Sandra Bruce and have shared our conversation below.

Sandra, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was 5 and I called everyone (Mom, Dad, my perhaps one of my two sisters) into the living room to announce what my future career would be. “I know what I want to do when I get older! I want to be a singer!” I did everything I could to train in order to support my ‘calling’.

Sandra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My mission was always to train to be able to sing professionally. I studied music theory in high school for 4 years. I took piano lessons from age 10. I took voice lessons from age 12. I was asked to be the Swing Choir accompanist for the high school when I was in grade 8. I was the church pianist for Sunday school to play their hymns at the Christian Church in my hometown of Paonia, Colorado. I attended every Sunday and continued to play the piano consistently from grades 4 through 12. I entered the Cherry Day competition for the 4th of July and won by singing. I was a Music Major in college to continue my piano and singing lessons. I was a church soloist in college on scholarship. I studied music theory, choral conducting, piano, voice, ear training, and sang with an 80-voice choir from first through 5th year in college- a 5 -year program. I got a job as a singing waitress at Judge Riggs at the Hilton Inn East, a fancy restaurant that hired opera singers from Wichita State University and musical theatre singers like me. I worked for them throughout college, accompanied by John Leavitt who is now a very famous writier/arranger for Hal Leonard Corporation. He hired me the end of my freshman year. I was cast as the supporting role in the musical at college my freshman year. After college, I auditioned for cruise line companies, companies that hired singers. I auditioned for book shows at dinner theaters and got cast. I ended up in Aspen, CO where I sang political/social satire with a cast of 18 singers- all original material per winter season with New York writers. I worked there for 12 years. I moved to Florida where I became Head of Music at 2 private schools. I was on the Voice Faculty at another. That is when I began to teach private voice and piano- during that time in Florida. I saw that there was a huge demand for students who wanted to improve their singing and piano skills in order to audition for the Bak Middle School of Arts and the Dreyfoos High School of the Arts. I helped numerous students get into those two schools, and I had up to 100 private students per year while in Florida. I ran Broadway singing camps as well over a 4-year period. I moved to Dubai, UAE where I helped to start a music program. I became the Head of the Music department. In the evenings, I sang at three different venues as their house musician, playing the piano and singing jazz standards and classical music. I find enormous satisfaction teaching private voice and piano to students. While teaching at schools, I would have singing groups come and participate in singing Broadway songs for an hour before school. I taught groups after school to perform specialized shows of Broadway songs. I started a private lessons program that took place during the school day at one of the schools I worked at. I developed curriculum. I believe that I can help any students learn how to sing and sing better than he/she ever expected to. I support my students with links to opportunities to improve within the community as well. I help my students see their dreams realized if they want to pursue music as a future. Even if it’s just to improve their instrument, I am available for that, too. Singing and playing the piano are tools for learning about discipline, bringing joy into one’s life, and becoming good at something that no one can take away from them. Acting is also a big part of my life. I like teaching acting classes, too. I help students choose monologues for auditions. When working as Head of Music, I also ran talent shows, was the musical director for the musicals, and I was in charge of planning all musical presentations. Acting is a great way to bring out your personality and find yourself. It is a wonderful vehicle to building one’s self-esteem.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes. I wish that there was a guide to lay out the path to singing on Broadway. I know now that there are several companies that you need to work for to acquire your equity card. I would like there to be a path drawn out to follow in order to no waste or lose valuable time. If not Broadway, have a pamphlet that spells out the kinds of jobs you can be hired at as a singer. If that is your desire, which schools should you consider going to. Which schools can guarantee you auditions after you complete their program and offer job placement programs for singers/pianist.

Many just move to New York and attend auditions and work random jobs and grab roommates- There doesn’t seem to be any strategic planning involved.

I just would have liked to have known more about what my options were, and I would have gone to a different university that would have supported what my true goals were- those were to sing and act.

I was in an education department and got a Music Education degree. I just wanted to sing. I am happy that I can touch the lives of many through my instruction. I truly love sharing my love for singing with those who want to learn how to do it better.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

If you want to sing on Broadway, then you should be able to do that. Whatever you have in your heart of what you really want to do, you should help your child who wants it read up on and create the pathway to get you there. You must be strategic in your planning. The path needs to be literally mapped out.

If you don’t just take random jobs and random opportunities along the way, have a plan that no one can throw you off of- that no one who comes along can interfere with- so you don’t get discouraged and settle. Every single thing you do needs to be very strategically planned out. Then, stick with the plan. The money needs to be figured out also. Who is going to support the financial means at the beginning while you are getting in all of the necessary training. On the job training exists- apprenticeships. You need to see where you want to end up and then plan backwards, and don’t compromise what you really want to do.