Johann van der Sandt was born in Kroonstad in the Orange Free State. He studied music at the University of Pretoria (organ, piano, clarinet and vocal training) and sang in the University Choir. He made his debut as a choral conductor in 1989 with the Impromptu Adult Chamber Choir. He often adjudicates at music and choir festivals and competitions. In January 1996 he completed a Diploma in Choral Conducting at the Instituut voor Dirigente Edukatie at Gorinchem in the Netherlands.

            Van der Sandt directed the East Rand Youth Choir from 1993 to 1997, during which time the choir won the folklore section in the 16th Béla Bartók Choral Competition in Hungary and Second Prize in the Mixed Youth Choir Section. Van der Sandt was also awarded Second Prize amongst the competition’s conductors. He has also worked as director of the choir of the Afrikaans High School in Pretoria and of the Singkronies Chamber Choir, the latter being made up wholly of professional singers. The Singkronies won the 1998 South African Music Award for their recording of the sacred a-cappella works of the Stellenbosch composer Pieter van der Westhuizen. Johann van der Sandt is also known as a composer and choral arranger, and has had works performed by choirs both in South Africa and abroad. He is joint editor of the African Songbook for Mixed Choir. From 1995 until 1998, van der Sandt conducted the choir of the Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg, with whom he won the 1998 International Advent and Christmas Music Competition in Prague. At the same event, he was awarded the prize as best conductor. 

            Today, Johann van der Sandt is a lecturer in Choral Conducting at the University of Pretoria and the official choral conductor of the University.  He is married to Bea de Wit.

Johann Van der Sandt on Guild Music

• GMCD 7246 Voice of Africa

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