French horn player, Sandra Donatelle, has crossed genres, borders and continents in her long career. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Sandra has played with symphonies in Toronto, Hamilton and Hong Kong. In addition, she had played in Broadway pit orchestras in Toronto, Chicago, Las Vegas and on tour. Her repertoire is wide and varied, and so is her life story.
A Double Life
After years of working and playing in the United States, Sandra became a dual citizen and a brand new American Citizen in 2025. A proud Canadian mom of two professional musicians, Sandra has returned to living in Chicago. However, she makes frequent trips to St. John’s, Nova Scotia where her daughter and grandchildren live. She also treks to Indianapolis, where her son plays in the symphony.
Leisure Time
Now retired from professional playing, Sandra can be found in hot yoga studios, or throwing pots and working with clay at the local arts collective. She is also a proud dog mom, and a lover of all dogs. She is also a fabulous cook and can whip up a spectacular Greek dinner on command. . . but only if she wants to!
The Shows
Sandra has great credits in the pits of Broadway musicals even though she confesses that she’s never seen a show on Broadway. Nonetheless, the list is epic: Phantom, Les Miz, Lion King, Showboat, Ragtime (the original pre-Broadway production and recording!), Evita and more.
The future looks bright for an artist who is still curious about the world and grateful for the opportunities yet to come. Keep your eyes on Sandra Donatelle!