Sandra Walden is the director of the Lyric Theatre and Instructor in Opera and Musical Theatre at the University of Northern Iowa.

With an extensive background in operatic and musical theatre performance, Walden began directing opera while pursuing her MM in Vocal Performance at the University Of Minnesota. She served as the Assistant Director for the University of Minnesota Opera program for two years, directing Riders to the Sea, and Assistant Directing/Choreographing Idomeneo, Bernstein's Mass, and Die Entführung aus dem Serail, among others. While at UNI, Walden has directed The Lyric Theatre productions of The Tender Land, The Threepenny Opera, The Old Maid and the Thief, The Telephone, Die Fledermaus, and Fiddler on the Roof to critical success:

"The Tender Land" confirms the truth that good opera well-produced makes peerless theater .Waterloo Courier, 11/02

"The [Threepenny Opera] production is interesting, exciting and fun. It should be seen by anyone who loves opera - and by anyone who does not. Both will find much to like." Waterloo Courier, 3/04

Walden also directs the UNI Opera Performance Ensemble, which presents opera scenes concerts and chamber operas. Her regional directing credits include The Telephone, The Old Maid and the Thief, Hansel and Gretel and Peter Pan.

In addition to directing and performing, Walden has worked nationally as a music director and choreographer, and has sung professionally with the Dale Warland Singers, LA Master Chorale, and LA Jazz Singers. Walden has studied directing with Wesley Balk, Vern Sutton, Ben Krywosz, and Karen Miller, and co-founded an improvisational ensemble in New York (ActionNYC) which created new works synthesizing music, theatre and dance. Walden is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society.