Sanda Ladoşi

Sanda Ladoși (born January 2, 1970) is a Romanian singer known for representing Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. She began singing as a young child and developed her musical talents early. By age 10, Ladoși was learning piano, guitar, and voice, and she won a national music competition in Romania during her school years. She later moved to Bucharest to pursue a music career and soon emerged as a notable figure in Romanian pop music. Over the years, she has released five albums and performed in concerts across Romania and abroad. Sanda Ladoși’s career spans music, acting, and public roles in the arts, making her a well-known name in Romanian entertainment.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Sanda Ladoși was born in Târgu Mureș, Romania, and started singing at the age of 7 in her school choir. Then, in her teen years, she took formal lessons in music and canto, which helped her build a strong foundation. After finishing high school in 1988, she moved to Bucharest to follow her dream of becoming a professional singer. Around the same time, she also enrolled in law studies at Titu Maiorescu University, showing her dedication to education alongside music. Ladoși’s early talent was recognized in Romanian music contests. In 1987, she competed in the “Steaua fără nume” (“Star Without a Name”) talent show, and in 1988 she won First Prize in the interpretation section at the prestigious Mamaia Music Festival. These achievements opened doors for her in the Romanian music industry. By the early 1990s, Sanda Ladoși was performing in national tours and musical events, often alongside established Romanian artists, which helped her gain experience and popularity.

Rise to Fame in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Sanda Ladoși solidified her place as a prominent Romanian singer. She released her debut album Când vine seara in 1993, followed by a second album Între noi mai e un pas in 1994. The second album was especially notable because it featured six duet songs with the late actor Ștefan Iordache. With Iordache, she performed the song “Eu vreau să-ți spun că te ador”, winning second place at the 1994 Mamaia Festival and third place in 1995 at the same festival’s songwriting section. Ladoși continued to release popular music through the decade. Her third album, Nu mă iubi, came out in 1997, and she introduced new songs in a mix of pop and contemporary styles.

In 1999, she finished recording her fourth album, Mi-e dor, which included both original songs and covers of Romanian classics. That year, she also earned another award (Third Prize) at the Mamaia Festival for a song by composer Dan Iagnov. Sanda Ladoși’s rich voice and stage presence made her a frequent guest at music festivals and TV shows. She performed duets with celebrated Romanian artists like Marcel Pavel, Ioan Gyuri Pascu, and Aurelian Temișan, among others. By the end of the 1990s, she had released four albums and become a fixture in Romania’s pop music scene. She even attempted to represent Romania in Eurovision once before – taking part in the national selection in 1998 – but it wasn’t until a few years later that she would reach the Eurovision stage.

Eurovision 2004 and “I Admit”

In 2004, Sanda Ladoși achieved international recognition by winning Romania’s national selection Selecția Națională and becoming the country’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest held in Istanbul. She performed the song “I Admit”, an uptempo pop track with Latin dance influences. Sanda Ladoși finished 18th in the Eurovision 2004 final, earning 18 points for Romania. The song “I Admit” was included on her fifth studio album, titled Khalini, which was released in 2006. This album, coming shortly after her Eurovision appearance, featured a mix of new songs and showcased her versatile singing style.

Later Career, Hiatus, and Family Life

After the mid-2000s, Sanda Ladoși’s career entered a quieter phase as she focused on her personal life. She married and started a family; her son was born in 2007, and her daughter in 2009. With two young children at home, Ladoși took a break from the public eye – she stepped back from frequent performances and put her music career on hold for a few years. Then, as her children grew, Sanda Ladoși gradually returned to the entertainment scene. Around 2011, she started making selective appearances again, collaborating in the studio with fellow singer-composer Ovidiu Komornyik and performing in concert when opportunities arose. Ladoși also expanded her artistic pursuits during this period. For instance, she took on a voice acting role – she provided the Romanian dubbing voice for the character Mulan in a special episode of Disney’s animated series Sofia the First. This project allowed her to explore acting talents beyond singing. Additionally, she appeared as a guest singer in stage shows at Bucharest’s Constantin Tănase Revue Theater, indicating her versatility as a performer.

Return to Public Roles and Recent Work

By the late 2010s, Sanda Ladoși made a notable comeback not just in music but also in public cultural roles. In 2017, she surprised many by developing a passion for circus arts. She learned acrobatic skills and even performed aerial routines while singing, blending her musical talent with physical performance. That same year, the Bucharest city administration appointed her as the Deputy Artistic Director of the Bucharest Metropolitan Circus (Globus Circus). In this public role, Ladoși is responsible for the creative direction of circus shows, helping to modernize and promote one of the city’s famed entertainment institutions. This career turn showed her ability to reinvent herself and contribute to the arts beyond pop music.

Sanda Ladoși also re-established her presence in the Romanian media. She began appearing on television as a mentor and juror. For example, she joined the jury panel of “Vedeta familiei”, a family-oriented children’s talent show on TVR (Romanian public television). On this show, Ladoși evaluates and encourages young singers and their parents, drawing on her vast experience in music. In addition, she remained connected to the Eurovision community. In 2022, Sanda Ladoși served as a member of the Romanian jury for the Eurovision Song Contest and later spoke out about a voting controversy that year, expressing her candid opinions on the fairness of the contest’s results. Throughout all these activities, Ladoși has continued to perform live on occasion. She still gives special concerts and makes guest appearances on TV and at music events, reminding audiences that her vocal talent is very much alive.