About Masterclass Lady
Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli.
When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler.
She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8.
In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman.
In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins.
In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright.
In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins.
Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
July 1, 2012 
Masterclass Lady On MySpace.Com
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MasterClassLady.Com 
Wow!
Rosanne,
Thanks so much for this post. That was a great tribute and so surprising to learn that your group pays tribute to our Independence Day as well as paying tribute to their own Canada Day. Such a contrast to how we here in the states are led to believe that most Canadians (as well as the rest of the world) feel about us.
I don’t even have the words, I am actually a little choked up by this. It makes me ashamed that the Canadian anthem isn’t performed more in our country. Actually not only is it NEVER done (much to my chagrin) but I actually think that a lot of US citizens would probably be outraged and that is very sad.
That was such a respectful and just down right neighborly thing to do! I bow to you, the choir, and all of your citizens. My mom’s first cousin lives in Windsor. I now want to visit your country more than ever after seeing this video. She has invited us several times but we have never had the chance to take her up on it. I will make it a point to do so after seeing this video.
I am absolutely amazed and humbled by this. “Absolute class” is all I can say! I am literally awestruck.
Thank You so very much! The performance of both anthems was absolutely great but the actual display had a much larger impact, on me at least. But you can definitely see and hear your influence in the voices and on the faces of those youngsters!
Was it your production? I mean was the whole thing your idea? If so, thank you so much from the depths of my soul! This is one that you should definitely be bragging about. The spirit of this display is what the world needs more of.
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See what I mean! How rude of me!
A very happy Canada Day to you and all of your fellow citizens!
So very sorry. I was just caught up in the emotion of the moment.
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What beautiful voices! I am a proud American but your anthem is georgous and I understand why you feel so proud. Happy Canada Day!
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Taymaro – thank you so much. You are so gracious!!
We actually performed both these anthems at the opening game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. We were privileged to be selected for this performing opportunity.
We happened to be in Toronto because of the International Choral Festival so we wanted to take advantage of the Skydome experience as well.
But don’t sell your beautiful country short. I believe both anthems are sung at your sporting events when a Canadian team is present, no?
This arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” was written by Derrick Johnson who arranges music for the Liberty Singers at Disney’s Epcot Center in Orlando.
I contacted him for his arrangement and he gave me permission to use his arrangement – sent me the music. I was extremely honored.
Some of the Boston Red Sox players came up to the choir members after the game and said it was one of the best arrangements they ever heard.
That is me conducting the choir – a younger, slimmer, more vibrant me!! Hahaha
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Thank you Harold!! And an early Happy Independence Day to you. 🙂
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Happy Canada Day! That is truly a wonderful perfomance–and, seeing that July 4th is in just a few days, timely all around–thank you for sharing!
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ReReader – thank you so much. I have a separate blog topic for Independence Day coming soon. 🙂
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Rosanne, I love the relationship between Windsor and Detroit. There is geniune respect and friendship. The recent Fireworks were just beautiful. My daughter drove to Windsor to get a different view. We love your National Anthem and hear it quite often. When I was single, I dated two guys from Canada! Sweet gents, they were. :o)
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Rosanne, I don’t know if both anthems are performed or not at those games. I have never personally heard the Canadian anthem performed at a sports event. Of course I am not a baseball fan though, so it very well could be.
Even so, I don’t think I am selling my country short at all. I love my country but the more I am exposed to other countries and cultures the more I start to see the negative side of our own society as a whole. US citizens are indeed arrogant, conceited, selfish and egotistical. It’s true!!
I know every nation has it’s challenges but it just seems to me that most of the US is just so fickle and petty. Our political atmosphere is absolutely corrupt and crippled by all the in-fighting.
It seems to me that if the United States can be described as the “Great Experiment” then Canada should be viewed as the result of that experiment after all the bugs were worked out…LOL. I know that nothing is perfect but you seldom hear about political drama and discourse out of Canada. Either they do a very good job of not airing their dirty laundry in public or they are just doing a much better job at working together and getting things done to the satisfaction of the citizens there.
The whole atmosphere just seems different. The attitude of the Canadian people is so much more relaxed and at ease!
It just seems that everyone in the US is just on the edge and on their guard all the time. Nobody can relax and just enjoy life and be pleasant to each other and have other people’s best interest in mind so that we can care for and nurture our weak and underprivileged while at the same time providing the support structure for our able bodied and ambitious citizens to excel. It’s just the opposite in fact. Our society takes advantage of the weak and under privileged and at the same time we do everything we can to trample the hopes and aspirations of those who display the desire and hope for a greater tomorrow.
Just one example of how selfish our citizens are. I was listening to a conservative talk radio show yesterday. They were discussing (complaining) about the Supreme Court ruling that the new “Affordable Healthcare Act” that was passed by our congress did indeed meet constitutional muster. The host of show actually said that he was concerned that our health care system would not be able to absorb the 30 million additional people that would now be able to seek health care because of this policy. He was afraid that everything would bottle neck and people who are more fortunate and used to being at the head of the line would now be mired deep behind a lot of other people and have to be inconvenienced. This host was actually concerned that if we didn’t add more physicians that we would all end up being treated by PA’s and Nurses instead of the actual doctor. Now in the same breath where he says that 30 million people stand to benefit from this new law, he says that it is bad law and that it will hurt our economy. I just don’t see how an added demand for more highly paid physicians can hurt the economy for one, and for two I don’t see how it can be bad law if so many stand to benefit from it. It’s just laughable and at the same time depressing that we have people of influence that are this self centered that all they can do is gripe about how they are fearful that they, themselves will be slightly inconvenienced. They say that with this law the health care will begin to be rationed. Well I say if 30 million people are not receiving health care then the rationing already started long ago by strong arming them out of the system to begin with. As far as the physicians go, I have been going to the same doctor for 10 years and I have only ever seen the actual doctor once in that ten year. The Physicians Assistant is always the person I talk to and who takes care of me now so that argument is already out. Also why can’t the doctors play a few less rounds of golf and keep the office open a couple of extra hours a day if their work load grows a little. All other businesses are always looking for the opportunity to grow and gain new patrons. Why would it be such a burden on our physicians?
Anyway I don’t want a political discussion but I never cease to be amazed at how selfish people can be. That is my point and that is why I was just so touched by the video here. I think I want to move to Canada….LOL. If only that were possible!
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Taymaro – you should take a run at politics. Your views were passionate and eloquent. And, I understand and applaud the strong stance you took here. This takes courage.
I travel to the USA as often as I can and sometimes wish I did live there. Especially for the arts. There is so much more opportunity for musicians to succeed and many of my vocal students wish they could afford tuition at a USA University.
However, in terms of health care, no once can complain. Yes, there are cutbacks that seem unjustified but, overall, no one can or should gripe about the level of care we receive here. It is equal across the board.
And, if you wish, one can elect to supplement their government health coverage via employment benefits or additional private health plans.
However, everyone is guaranteed the best medical care if one needs it and that, I believe, is what President Obama is trying to initiate in the USA. No favorites. That’s the way it should be.
Thank you so much once again Taymaro.
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Kariann – that is a very sweet story. Thank you for sharing it. I love that Windsor and Detroit are buddies!! :). I have been to both cities and find it so neat that two cities from two neighboring countries can co-exist so well. In harmony.
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