Sandra Bailey has a diverse and extensive performance background, having appeared across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. She is currently the second bassoonist with the Arkansas Symphony and has previously served as Principal Bassoonist with the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Kwazulu-Natal Philharmonic. Sandra has also performed with notable ensembles including the Oregon Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Elgin Symphony, New World Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Sandra earned her Bachelor's of Music from Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, studying under Chris Millard, Lewis Kirk, and David McGill, and completed her Master’s of Music at DePaul University School of Music under the guidance of Bill Buchman and Keith Buncke.

She has garnered numerous accolades, including the Musicians Club of Women Jerome and Elaine Nierenberg Foundation Scholarship, first prize at the NCSC Army Band National Collegiate Competition—where she performed Gordon Jacob’s Bassoon Concerto with “Pershing’s Own” United States Army Band on the West Steps of the U.S. Capitol— the Northwestern University Wind Symphony Concerto Competition, Brevard Music Festival's Jan and Beattie Wood Concerto Competition, second place in the National Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, and the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, where she performed Hummel's Bassoon Concerto in F Major at Carnegie Hall.

Sandra has attended prestigious music festivals such as the Gateways Music Festival, Castleton Music Festival, Brevard Music Festival, Musik Akademie Westfalen, Orchestre de la Francophonie, Aspen Music Festival and School, and the National Repertory Orchestra.

Recently, Sandra premiered original compositions with the South Loop Symphony and looks forward to composing future premieres. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, woodworking, and DJing.