Kathy Sander – Piano/Keyboards/Vocals
Kathy has entertained in restaurants, bars, cafes and for private and corporate events since the age of 17 – starting out at “Brandy’s Restaurant” as resident pianist whilst completing Senior at school – through work in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane – jobs that have taken her to the best venues in Australia – performing for royalty, government dignitaries, etc. Favourite work has taken Kathy to residencies at the Windsor Hotel and the Portego Bar in Melbourne, to the Hilton and Hyatt Hotels in Sydney, to Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s finest venues.
Keen on the Piano and Organ from age 4 – Kathy’s first memory was performing on TV on a Yamaha organ, age 5 with a rendition of “Raindrops keep falling on your head” and “Tico Tico” – still playing these tunes today, although the repertoire has grown somewhat. A fulfilling life as a classical pianist, with a penchant for jazz and rock has led Kathy to be a versatile and entertaining pianist. Repertoire embraces different genres; classical, jazz standards, pop ballads, evergreens, Latin music, easy listening pieces and well-chosen contemporary songs adapted to her unique style. Please click here to listen
Kathy grew up in Toowoomba, playing piano at an early age – studied with Brachi Tilles, originally from Tel Aviv, who arrived in Queensland in the late seventies – straight from studies in Vienna. Kathy also studied the violin, her second instrument from Spiros Rantos. Then, a move to Melbourne under the guiding hand of Stephen McIntyre and Roy Shepherd at the Victorian College of the Arts, completing a degree with a Chamber Music and Accompaniment major.
A love of all styles of music was evident in teen years in Queensland, Kathy’s first solo piano gigs in Restaurants and Clubs began whilst still at high school with a Friday residency at “Brandy’s Restaurant” in her home town of Toowoomba – and then continued with two residencies when moving to Victoria – playing for High Tea at the Windsor Hotel and three afternoons a week at Menzies at Rialto in the courtyard Portego Bar, whilst a student at the VCA. Over thirty years professional piano work has led to many interesting and varied jobs, performing for royalty, government officials and dignitaries, and a very appreciative audience wherever she plays.
Currently working as a freelance pianist & keyboardist in Brisbane – associate artist at the Queensland Conservatorium and University Music Dept, accompaniment and private teaching of piano and theory at Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane Girl’s Grammar School and privately. Kathy has held many teaching positions at some of Australia’s leading Private Schools – St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill in Sydney, Sacre Coeur in Glen Iris and the Peninsula Grammar School in Melbourne and The Stuartholme School, St Aiden’s School, & St Laurence’s College in Brisbane.
Memorable performances have been on the Vatican Organ, on tour with the Stuartholme Vocal Ensemble and as pianist for a master class with legendary violinist Maxim Vengerov.
Highlights have included backing – Frank Sinatra – Liberace & Dionne Warwick. She enjoys working in the commercial music scene both with many years spent in Latin bands, such as “Havana” and “Sabrosa”, crossover group “Barocka”and Jazz bands such as “The Barry Sutton Trio”. Kathy also completed 8 years of touring schools tours with “Sound Sources” for Music Viva in NSW and the Qld Arts Council with her husband, drummer Barry Sutton.
Most recent theatre work includes – “Dusty” “Miss Saigon”, “Phantom of the Opera”, and “Mamma Mia”. Up until recently, Kathy was principle piano in the Queensland Pops Orchestra, and has performed with contemporary classical group “Topology” and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra as audition pianist. At the moment her swing and events band “The Mood Music Band”, “The Mood Music Salon Orchestra“, “The Great Gatsby Band” and piano and bass duo “Amica Jazz Duo” with bass player, Bryan Pearson keep her busy.
The main objective for Kathy and the team at Mood Music is to keep music live, providing quality live music and entertainment to discerning clients.