Bio

Sandra Bouissou is a versatile and accomplished violinist and educator whose dedication spans solo, orchestral, and chamber music. Originally from California’s Bay Area, Sandra has been based in New York City for the past three years where she holds section violin positions in Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, Fort Greene Orchestra, and is a regular substitute in the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Sandra also currently subs on the Broadway show, Gypsy. She recently graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance in the studio of Nicholas Mann and Lucie Robert (2023) and a Professional Studies Certificate (2024) in the studio of Lucie Robert.

Sandra’s musical journey has taken stages across continents, with notable appearances at renowned festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, the International Summer Academy in Saltzburg’s Mozarteum, Fontainebleau’s School of the Arts Music Program, and Festival Napa Valley. Her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance is from Chapman University where she was a Temianka Scholar and had the privilege of playing on the Temianka-Saparoff Violin. There, she studied with Bill Fitzpatrick and was the concertmaster of The Chapman Orchestra for her four years of undergraduate studies. Prior to that, Sandra studied with Claudia Bloom in Palo Alto before attending San Francisco Conservatory’s Pre-College to study with Bettina Mussumeli. Furthermore, Sandra has had the honor of playing for and with artists such as David Kim, Laurie Hamilton, Katherine Fong, Pierre Amoyal, Régis Pasquier, Gérard Poulet, Paul Kantor, Connie Heard, Robert Chen, Cho-Liang Lin, Pei-Ling Lin, Pinchas Zukerman, the Pacifica Quartet, the Telegraph Quartet, and the Juilliard String Quartet.

In New York City, Sandra pairs her teaching with performing at private events and weddings as a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed at eminent venues in New York City such as David Geffen Hall, Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, and Merkin Hall. She subbed for off-broadway’s Hunchback of Notre Dame in September of 2022 and recorded at Sear Sound in December of 2023.

Teaching Info

She is a huge proponent of teaching music as not only learning to play an instrument, but also a way to learn self-discipline, creativity, problem solving, focus and concentration, self-expression, and critical thinking. Her pedagogical approach centers on fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment that encourages curiosity and personal growth. Sandra tailors her teaching methods to match each student’s unique learning style and aspirations. Over the past eight years, Sandra has been instrumental in the teachings and development of violin students, both children and adults, in both the California Bay Area and New York City. During her Professional Studies’ Certificate program, Sandra completed an independent study with Dr. Carol Ann Aicher on ‘Bridging the Divide between Teaching and Performing the Violin’.