Sandra Pastrana studied the violin and completed her vocal studies at the Conservatori Liceu in Barcelona with distinction. She has won various international competitions, including the Francisco Vinas Contest in Barcelona and the Concorso Lirico Internazionale Ottavio Ziino in Rome. She made her debut as Serpina in La serva padrona at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.

Important achievements in her career include Werther (Sophie) in Salerno and Sassari, L’elisir d’amore (Adina) in Malaga, La sonnambula (Lisa) at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, the Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Malaga, at the Santander International Festival and at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Don Pasquale conducted by Riccardo Muti in Ravenna, Piacenza and at the Musikverein Wien, La rondine (Lisette) staged by Graham Vick at the Teatro La Fenice and La traviata (Violetta) in Marbella. She also performed the role of Ninetta in La gazza ladra at the 2009 Rossini in Wildbad. Pastrana has recently explored mezzo-soprano roles.