Sandra Jean Lutters

Sandra Jean Lutters of Gainesville passed away peacefully on December 15, 2018, at the age of 68, following a brief illness. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Samuel Elliott Wallace and Leigh Livingston Wallace and grandson, Wilson Young Wallace of Gainesville.  Sandra was preceded in death by her parents Forrest Parmley Lutters and Mary Simon Lutters of Sandy Springs.  Her sister, Susan Lutters Northcutt of Lawrenceville, passed away thirteen days after Sandra, following an extended illness.

Sandra was born in Philadelphia and moved with her family to New Orleans, Chicago, Dallas and finally Atlanta in 1962. She graduated from Sandy Springs High School in 1968 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Music and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia under Greek pianist Despy Karlas and Edwin Gershefski, respectively. Sandra was first exposed to opera at the age of 15 as a fledgling pianist for Madame Inga Manski's voice studio.  Later, she studied conducting under the brilliant baton of Maestro Alberta Masiello, which led to the great opportunity of coach and repetiteur with the Westchester Lyric in Westchester, NY under the direction of Placido Domingo.  Sandra worked abroad as a staff coach accompanist for the prestigious American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, head opera coach for Panama Opera, and staff coach for the Harrower Young Artist Program in Atlanta.  She accompanied singers, instrumentalists and choirs in concerts throughout the USA, Europe, Russia and the Middle East in a career spanning more than forty years.  Many of these appearances were with internationally known soprano Indra Thomas, with whom she recorded a CD of spirituals.  Sandra coached world renowned vocalists such as Metropolitan Opera Tenor, Jay Hunter Morris.  She also co-produced, conducted and directed several operas.  In addition to playing and singing with many different organizations, Sandra accompanied worship services most recently for Gainesville First United Methodist Church. 

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, GA, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 12th.  The family will receive friends in the gathering room immediately following the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Sandra's life may be made to Gainesville First United Methodist Church or the Humane Society of Hall County.  Sandra loved animals-especially cats and Georgia Bulldogs football.  Her family would like to thank Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center for their care and support.