SANDY ROBINSON MARRON Musical Director (Master 700 Director), LIONS GATE CHORUS, 2012 INTERNATIONAL BRONZE MEDALISTS TENOR, BRAVA!, 2004 INTERNATIONAL QUARTET CHAMPIONS APPROVED SOUND JUDGE, SAI CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL FACULTY, SAI PROFESSIONAL BARBERSHOP COACH, SAI & BHS

Sandy comes from a diverse background of musical experience and education including 12 years of piano and theory training with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada, 5 years in Choral Music Education at the University of Victoria, singing and conducting classical, jazz and musical theatre. Sandy received her Bachelor of Arts & Education degrees in Psychology and Music Education from the University of Victoria in 1986, after which she moved to Vancouver. A year later, she discovered Sweet Adelines. Sandy joined the Burnaby Chorus in 1987 and within one year became Tenor Section Leader. In her second year, she was appointed Assistant Director and immediately enrolled in the Directors Certification Program. After completing the DCP in 1991, she accepted the challenge of becoming the front line director of the Lions Gate Chorus and has been with them ever since.Under Sandy’s direction, Lions Gate Chorus has achieved 8 regional gold medals, and as a result, has competed on the International Competition stage 8 times...so far. With each appearance as competitors, the chorus' score has always improved over the last appearance. Their placement record is as follows:

• 1996 in Fort Lauderdale, 22nd Place
• 1998 in Nashville, 20th Place, and the chorus won the Harmony Achievement Award
• 2000 in Orlando, 18th Place
• 2003 in Phoenix, 11th Place, and therefore served as Mic Testers for the Finals (just barely missing the coveted Top Ten)
• 2005 in Detroit, 12th Place (again just barely missing the Top Ten)
• 2007 in Calgary, 3rd Place Bronze Medalists!! With a record-breaking score of 2815!! Not only did Lions Gate finally make the Top Ten, they busted into the medals with a 3rd place finish, and an 87% average!!
• 2009 in Nashville, 2nd Place Silver Medalists!! With yet another record-breaking score of 3015!! They also received the Most Entertaining Chorus Award.
• 2011 in Houston, 3rd Place Bronze Medalists with another huge score of 3012, which is an average of 94.2%.
• Lions Gate is gearing up for Regional in May 2012, hoping to qualify for the next International Competition in Honolulu, Hawaii in November of 2013.

Because of Sandy’s dedication, the Lions Gate Chorus has achieved much success throughout the years, and has developed into a strong and dynamic group of 100+ women who enjoy the standard of excellence set by Sandy at every rehearsal and performance.

Sandy is a Master 700 Director in the Sweet Adelines International Directors Certification Program, an Approved Sound Judge in the International Judging Program, and serves as Certified International Faculty.

Sandy also sang tenor with Brava!, the 2004 International Quartet Champions, crowned “Queens of Harmony” in Phoenix, Arizona. Brava! is the first quartet from Canada to ever win the International Championship.

Sandy is a professional coach, and travels the world coaching choruses and quartets in both the Sweet Adelines & Barbershop Harmony Society organizations. She coaches, teaches & judges all over the world, including Canada, USA, Scotland, England, New Zealand, Australia, Holland, Sweden and Germany.

>In 2006, Sandy married Tim Marron, and has since moved to Tacoma, WA, where she happily resides with Tim and his two handsome sons, Connor (16) and Austin (13). Tim is a Police Sergeant for Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and is a barbershopper, too. In fact, Tim is a Certified Singing Judge in the Barbershop Harmony Society, and they often travel together to teach, coach & judge all over the world.

Although Sandy’s family lives in Tacoma, WA, Sandy still commutes north to Vancouver each week to direct Lions Gate!

If you would like to contact Sandy, email her at sandymarron@gmail.com