Sandi McMenamin
entertainer - composer - piano teacher
Sandi McMenamin is a world class act by any standard. Certainly she must be one of Australia’s most widely travelled piano bar entertainers, performing in piano bars, clubs, and concert halls from England to Egypt, Cyprus to Sweden, Gabon to Greece, Abu Dhabi to Bahrain, Norway to Japan, and Indonesia back to Adelaide Australia.
But Adelaide-born Sandi rapidly redefines the usual stereotypic image of a female entertainer. Depending on the audience and the song, she can vary from a low warm voice and sensual accompaniment to loud gutsy vocals and rhythmic piano bass especially for her rock and roll medleys). With a cosmopolitan personality and a huge repertoire of songs spanning 100 years, Sandi’s versatility is her key.
Behind that versatility is 17 years of formal classical training (culminating in a Bachelor of Music from Adelaide University), and also extensive experience in musical theatre, songwriting, rock bands/musicals, school music teaching, music arranging, and in her years as a solo entertainer.
Highlights
In late 2010, Sandi's greatest hit ADELAIDE YOU’RE A LADY finished world-wide Number 7 in voting out of 251 songs in CityLove's Online Song Competition. It was the 2nd highest voted Australian song.
After travelling the world performing in 5-star venues, Sandi McMenamin returned to her home town with guests Barrie McAskill and Aloysius Leeson and presented a show of Adelaide songs and memories of the reasons they call Adelaide home. The show ADELAIDE YOU’RE A LADY, based on Sandi’s song of the same name, was presented at OOTS (Out Of The Square) Matinee Series in September 2010.
In June 2010, Sandi presented the premiere performances of ADELAIDE YOU’RE A LADY at the Cabaret Fringe Festival in her own right.
While in Denmark in July 2009, Sandi made a new recording of her two hit songs THE SEA DRAGON COAST and THE SPIRIT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, as well as 8 other original songs to appear on her next album.
After her cabaret shows in February and April, Sandi presented her new show SANDI McMENAMIN IN CABARET at the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival in June 2009.
In April 2009 Sandi performed on her own and also again with well-known Adelaide singers Irene Petrie and Jan and Barrie McAskill in several shows at the Leafy Sea Dragon Festival in Yankalilla.
Feb 7, 2009 Sandi presented her own cabaret show at the Latvian Hall, Wayville
2008 Sandi performed in cabaret with Irene Petrie and Jan McAskill – in their own cabaret show and also as part of the Princeton Club Reunion at the Burnside Town Hall with other legendary Adelaide performers.
2007 Sandi performed THE SEA DRAGON COAST at the opening ceremony of the Leafy Sea Dragon Festival, Southern Fleurieu Peninsula
Christmas 2005 Sandi toured the north of South Australia with Bishop Hurley of Port Pirie and Father O’Neil of Coober Pedy, and sang carols in places like Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta, and Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. They were flown in a light aircraft by well-known pastoralist John Parnell, and were hosted in Arkaroola by co-director Doug Sprigg.
2005 Sandi was commissioned to write THE SEA DRAGON COAST, highlighting that area south of Adelaide from Myponga to Cape Jervis, where the South Australian marine emblem, the endangered leafy sea dragon, makes its home under the Rapid Bay jetty.
2005 Sandi premiered THE SEA DRAGON COAST at the closing ceremony of the Leafy Sea Dragon Festival, Southern Fleurieu Peninsula
In 2005 Sandi staged her own very successful cabaret show THE ROAD TO BAHRAIN at the Festival Centre Piano Bar.
In 2000 the CD THE SPIRIT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA was launched for sale at SA Tourism’s Travel Centre Shop, featuring Sandi on vocals/keyboards, and children from 3 Adelaide schools on backing vocals.
In 1994 her composition THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LOVE was performed by all students at Unley Primary School, Adelaide, to celebrate the International Year of the Family.
In 1990 ADELAIDE YOU’RE A LADY was chosen as the Adelaide City Council’s official 150th birthday song.
In 1989 Sandi performed in various concerts during the Adelaide Week in Himeji, Japan.
Sandi’s 1988 composition about the town of Karlstad in Sweden is still being played on Swedish radio.
In Adelaide in 1986 the single cassette ADELAIDE YOU’RE A LADY was released as a charity fundraiser for South Australia’s 150th birthday.
In Cyprus in 1984 she entertained UN troops and had her own half hour television programme.
In Bahrain in 1984 Sandi judged Radio Bahrain’s SONG FOR BAHRAIN contest.
In London in 1983 she recorded her first self-penned album, with former New Seeker Marty Kristian as producer. Donna Jones (also of the New Seekers) performed the song at Carol Kristian’s Drama & Ballet School Christmas concert that year.
In Cologne, Germany, in 1982, Sandi’s performance at a music festival featuring Chris De Burgh pushed her into the international scene.
Late 1970s Sandi was Musical Director/Accompanist for Young Mo at the Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, and I Love You Humphrey B Bear at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne.
Sandi McMenamin is truly a world class act…….
Tour Dates
• RECENT
AUSTRALIA – Adelaide Parkroyal Hotel, Hilton International Hotel, Fezbah, Earl Of Leicester Hotel, Warracknabeal Hotel (Vic), Beachport Hotel (SA)
• OVERSEAS
Sweden – hotels in Stockholm, Goteborg, Umea, Karlstad, Sandviken, Linkoping, and the MS Olympia Viking Line Stockholm/Helsinki
Norway – hotels in Voss, Risor, and Kristiansand
Greece – Hilton International Corfu
Egypt – Nile Hilton Hotel and Meridien Heliopolis Hotel Cairo
Bahrain – Regency Inter-Continental Hotel, Ramada Hotel, Marina Club
Cyprus – Cyprus Hilton Hotel Nicosia
London – Inter-Continental Hotel Park Lane, Bombay Brasserie Restaurant, Hilton International Hotel Park Lane, Macready's Actors Club Covent Garden etc
Abu Dhabi – Centre Hotel
Gabon, West Africa – Okoume Palace Inter-Continental Hotel Libreville
• BEFORE OVERSEAS
Adelaide – Henry Ayers Room Ayers House, City Hotel, Ladies Cocktail Bar etc (as singer/pianist)
Melbourne – Riversdale Hotel (first performances as singer/pianist after several years as restaurant and theatre pianist)
MUSICAL THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS
Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger/Composer
• RECENT
ADELAIDE – Claire Leahy’s Music Hall Show
• BEFORE OVERSEAS
ADELAIDE – Scapino, Neon Faustus, Young Mo (Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre)
MELBOURNE – The Football Show, Sweet Fanny Adams Armadale Hotel, The Elves And The Shoemaker Monash University Theatre, I Love You Humphrey B Bear Her Majesty's Theatre
ADELAIDE – Eight For Take-Off (Ansett Airlines Revue with Andrew Murrell), Cinderella, Golly Gosh Fat Cat, Adelaide College Of Music Concert at the Royalty Theatre, Adelaide Teachers College Productions at Scott Theatre
