Sandy Bigara has lived a
life revolving around art, fashion, good food, music and live performance since
she was a small child; appearing at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theater at the age of
four. She has run a highly successful music school ‘The Bigara Talent Factory’ since
1999. From 2002 – 2007 she worked in the public and private school sector
teaching a combination of Music and Drama, including being Director of Music
and Drama at St Henry’s Marist Brothers in Glenwood. Her passion and talent lie
in Music teaching (Music Theory, Vocal, Piano, Keyboard, Guitar and Performance)
script writing and stage direction, she is also an acrylic and mixed media Artist,
and has also dabbled in fashion design with moderate success.
MUSIC
Sandy was
schooled in the apprentice fashion and studied under musicians of great
influence, namely:
A lifetime friendship
and broad music tutorage by Jenny
Bonsignore: One of Durban’s finest music teachers and the head of music at Northlands Girls High School.
Music Theory ABRSM with Durand
Abraham: a Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the FOYSA Award for Four
Outstanding Young South Africans – currently working at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta.
Vocal training and
Choral Director training by Gerard’d Du
Toit: the conductor of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Youth Choir, who was awarded
"Outstanding conductor of the year" by the South African Choral
Society and until recently was Musical Director at Michaelhouse in Balgowan;
currently Music Director at Hermannsburg Deutshe School.
After 9 years as a
Natal Representative for singing, and after touring Europe as Assistant
Conductor of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Youth Choir, Sandy
enrolled at the Marc Poupard
School of Music where she
was fully trained as a Bella Canto singer specializing in Aria Antiche, Art
Song and Folk Song. She received an award from the Italian Consulate for her
efforts in the Aria Category of the Queensburgh Eisteddfod and was the title
holder of the Aria Antiche Trophy awarded by the Societa Dante Alighieri in Durban.
She was invited as a
special guest to a Master Class with Emma
Rienzi at UKZN Opera Studio.
For a short time she
studied under Senior Lecturer, Coleen
Philp, of the Opera Studio and Choral
Academy at UKZN.
Sandy
has collaborated with Durban Diva Pinkie
Mtshali and they have brought some of the most well loved songs to Durban’s audience.
Sandy
also had the honour of teaching a voice class at the Choral Academy;
she has a passion for vocal and musical growth and has performed multiple
genres, Jazz, RnB, Hip Hop, Pop, and Gospel...only a select few have heard her
Yodel!
S
andy is now
represented by Greenbox – Tanya Van Agthoven-Marais for her
corporate/restaurant performances and by 5Seasons Entertainment for her
children’s theatre productions.
DRAMA/THEATRE
Sandy’s dramatic studies were theoretical and practical, she spent five
years performing under the skillful hand of Rod Steenhuisen in the Northwood Plays (Some of our countries most
talented artists found their feet performing in these plays – Colin Moss, Karen
Wood, John Ellis, Cherise Roberts, Shanthan Pillay, Anne Bonsignore) After
completing high school, Sandy attended CBI where she met and studied under
drama lecturer Janine Milne – Janine
encouraged Sandy to grow her script writing ability and to follow her dreams, training
her in practical script development and stage presentation for two years.
Another influential person in Sandy’s drama growth was Laurel McCullough (Pumpkin Patch, ZET) who also encouraged and
taught her at various workshops and Soul Survivor gatherings, Laurel’s comical
applications and passion for young people’s theater have left a lasting
impression on Sandy’s writing style and focus.
From 2008 – 2010 Sandy’s Transport Authority show “The Road
Safety Road Show” and “The Beware Bears” performed for over 500, 000 children
in KZN.
In 2010 Sandy’s Health and Sport show “Junks
Make-Over/Soccer Star” performed for over 50, 000 children in KZN.
In 2011 Sandy’s “Aerobic Africa”
Health and Nutrition Road Show performed to over 10, 000 children in KZN. Her Redlight Foundation’s Anti Human-trafficking show “The Game”
was performed at the ICC (International Convention Centre) in Durban and performed a short road show to
poorer communities in and around Kwa-Zulu Natal. In December 2011 Sandy’s successful
children’s show “Animal tail” ran for the Christmas Season. Her Animal Anti Cruelty League “Amazing
Animal Show” and “The Animal Game Show” are running for the second year and
have reached over 50, 000 children. Cooee
Softdrink (Shoreline Beverages – the second largest competitor to Coca Cola
in the southern hemisphere) “Creative Science Show” has also launched with
success. Her Pre-School and Pre-Primary
show “Singa-Little-Longa has launched with great response in Durban. In October she will be performing at
The Botanical Gardens during the school holiday show season.
FASHION
Sandy did five
years of Home Economics while at school and absolutely abhorred sewing. After
school a need to create new and unusual clothing items eventually took hold and
Sandy started
sewing evening dresses and casual day wear – by hand. Upon commenting on her
unusal sexy “little black dress” Sandy’s
aunt couldn’t believe that the dress was sewn entirely by hand and gave her a
sewing machine. Sandy
has sewn decorated handbags, dresses and daywear mainly for herself and close
friends since 1999. In 2011 Sandy
started a little girl’s range of dresses which will be on sale from 2012.
In 2000 Sandy learned
how to crotchet and started immediately designing and making large elaborate
“fur collar” jackets – even making all of the fur collars herself from
wool. Her jackets were made specifically
for individual buyers and ranged from long trench coat style black jackets to
multi coloured rainbow dress jackets with giant buttons and oversized collars.
Her limelight moment was when Designer Brendon
Sturrock commissioned her to design and crotchet a pair of pants for him to
wear on the runway for the Young Designer Awards competition. Sandy has also made personalized handbags.
Sandy was motivated and encouraged by top
Durban Designer Warren Morck, and
more recently by the incredible Hanrie
Lues.
FOOD/HOTEL EXPERIENCE
After doing dismally at Home Economics for five years during high
school, Sandy made a point of learning all that she could about food, she spent
the better part of her student years (1999 – 2004) experimenting with dishes,
recipes, housewives suggestions, TV chef suggestions and learned by personal
mistake what does and does not go together. She has spent many hours smelling,
tasting and trying out every kind of herb and spice – being given free license
to feel, taste and sniff her way through a herb farm on the midlands meander
was a definite highlight for her! From a fussy picky eater as a child, Sandy can confidently say
that she has tried every dish available – from Crocodile (!!) to some
unpronounceable dish that she was offered in a Zimbabwean township. The only
thing Sandy
hasn’t tried yet is Lobster… and Haggis.
Sandy travelled
extensively with the Kwa-Zulu Natal
Youth Choir for over 8 years, and has stayed in Hotels all over South
Africa as well as all over Europe – she has experience the dingy Motel (A
Backpackers in Frances was definitely the worst of the lot apparently) the
standard Holiday Inn, ATKV Resort, Caravan park, BnB and the 5 star Boutique
Hotel more times than she can possibly remember; and has learned to spot good
hospitality and style a mile away. Her reviews and articles are honest and give
the opinion and experience of the patron, the public. She is a positive and
encouraging writer, focusing on what is good - while offering her humble
opinion as to what could be changed or improved upon. Sandy
is a natural networker and has formed lasting working relationships with her
review subject’s. Often being invited to return to events, as a guest. Sandy
does not expect any complimentary meals – she firmly believes in paying her
way, and supporting an overworked industry of talented individuals.
Being married for
almost 10 years also honed her ability to really taste and enjoy the subtle
flavours and personal effort that go into making the perfect dish. Sandy’s husband suffered
through many culinary ‘flops’ in the first year of marriage! The latest
challenge is that of pleasing a little 4 year old and 20 month old as well…
REACH
Sandy is a
journalist for the MiVoice Tabloid Newspaper which prints 25,000 copies
distributed free from Ballito to Umgeni. Sandy’s
articles are half a page and the hotel/restaurant is offered the use of the
other half page for specials, advertising or coupons – at a very affordable
rate. The front cover of the newspaper is also available for purchase.
Personally, Sandy
has over 1500 friends on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sbigara)
her blog posts are linked directly to: Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and to her
BBM list of friends. All of her reviews are published by the newspaper and
posted to her blog alongside gorgeous photographs of the venue and meals.
WORK
Sandy’s educational
plays for young audiences have entertained over 600,000 children since the
launch of her show company Paw Paw
Productions SA in 2008, combining educational content, comedy, action and
games, her shows have thrilled even the youngest of audiences...and their
teachers.
From her first piano
composition at the age of four, Sandy
has written over 40 classical pieces, three of which have been performed by the
KZN Provincial Choir (KZNYC) and
over 80 contemporary pieces; Her Christian songs have been sung in churches
across KZN.
She travelled to Australia
in December 2009 and had the pleasure of performing songs from her album
‘Braveman’ for people there. She is currently performing contemporary hits for
corporate or restaurant functions and has reworked her Braveman songs, with a
folk rock edge.
Sandy’s
Music School The Bigara Talent Factory has trained some of SA’s finest
performers. Including David Schlachter winner of SA’s Mnet “High School Musical” and currently playing Raoul in “Phantom of the
Opera” in Johannesburg,
Jed from “The Cheap Bad Habits” and Thulile Zama of “Heels over Head” fame.
Sandy has had her first novel “Thorngate” published,
and submits musings to her popular blog www.sandyramblings.blogspot.com
as much as possible.
Sandy is married to Francis Doherty-Bigara
and is the mother of two wonderful little girls, Savanna (01/2008) and Kelsey (07/2010)
www.facebook.com/sbigara admin.pawpaw@gmail.com
