Sandra Sheih

Academics Faculty

Job title

Highlight

Flute Performance

Started at Bethel

2023

Education

  • University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana - Bachelor of Music, 1995

Biography

Sandra Sheih made her performance debut at the age of 14 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. She went on to receive her Bachelor's degree in Flute Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying with Alexander Murray. Next, she was invited to study privately and intensively with Joshua Smith (Cleveland Orchestra, Principal Flute) for two years, and then continued her study of the flute under Adam Kuenzel (Minnesota Orchestra, Principal Flute) for five years. She has participated as a performer in intensive international masterclasses with Marina Piccini both in 1999 and 2024. She was recently a finalist in an International Concerto Competition in Switzerland through MPIMC.

Ms. Sheih has performed in a variety of settings throughout her career including operas, Broadway shows, symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, and as a concerto soloist. Opera and Broadway experience has included: Ohio Light Opera, Des Moines Opera, and Broadway Shows in Des Moines (including a special write up in the Des Moines Register about her “incredibly delightful” piccolo playing in a Best of Andrew Lloyd Weber show). Her symphony orchestra experience has included regular principal flute and piccolo positions with Exultate Chamber Orchestra and Choir, Ames Symphony, Oskaloosa Symphony, and the Des Moines Municipal Band. Sandra has substituted multiple times with Des Moines Symphony, Duluth Symphony, Mankato Symphony, Rochester Symphony, St. Cloud Symphony and for numerous community orchestras. Ms. Sheih has been a concerto soloist numerous times, her repertoire has included: Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Bach Suite in b minor, Briccaldi Carnival of Venice, Borne Carmen Fantasie, Chaminade Concertino, Doppler Andante et Rondo, Hue Fantasie, Mozart Concerto in D, Mozart Concerto in G, Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto in C Major.  In June 2024, she performed at BachFest with Exultate in Leipzig, Germany and performed on tour with the group throughout Germany and Prague. Repertoire included Brandenburg Concerto No 4, Aus Liebe from St Matthew’s Passion and Frostiana by Randall Thompson. 

Ms. Sheih has been teaching private flute lessons since she was given her teacher’s “wait list” at the age of 14. She currently teaches a private studio including a studio flute choir and is the Flute Professor at Bethel University.  Her students consistently win auditions.  She has given many masterclasses and been a clinician throughout Minnesota and for the Upper Midwest Flute Association.  

Currently, she is the Principal Flutist of Exultate Chamber Orchestra and Choir, a founding member of FluteSpiration Quartet, and a regular soloist with Summit Music. She also just launched her “Enhancing Emotional Intelligence through Music™️” project.
 

Courses taught

Private Flute Lessons