Sandra sings opera’s praises

By MELISSA MEEHAN
GROWING UP Sandra Willis was lucky to have a life full of culture and the arts.
Her parents would take her to the opera every now and then and she soon realised she was the only one of her friends who had the opportunity.
For many, the opera was out of reach – meant for the more affluent in life, not necessarily those in the west of Melbourne.
Since then, Sandra has worked for a range of companies in the arts industry – but her true love has always been the opera.
“I grew up in Williamstown, which is where I now live again after living in Sydney for over 15 years,” she said.
“I went to school in Altona/Newport and also in Werribee.
“My family has always been a western suburbs family – my father grew up in Footscray, too.
“So I guess I have used my own experiences for a reason to get opera out there, in communities who might not have had it readily available to them before.”
Ms Willis Sandra is manager of Oz Opera and also sits on the Regional and Touring Arts Programs Expert Assessment Panel.
Its main role is to make opera accessible to everyone in Australia.
Previously she was the company manager of internationally acclaimed Pricilla Queen of the Desert and for the Bell Shakespeare Company.
Oz Opera is the touring arm of Opera Australia which sees smaller versions of large production opera packed up in trucks and taken all around the country.
She also manages the smaller tours that go into schools.
“I just love that we are able to take these shows that have traditionally been something that the wealthy only have access to and take it to a small country town and give people a show,” she said.
“Opera is for everybody and I just love that I am a part of it.”