[Photos, Stream Link]Forte, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin Set To Perform At The National Tree Lighting Ceremony


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What a difference a year makes!

At 4:30 PM Eastern on December 6th 2013, the exceptional triumvirate of voices known as Forte, are set to take to the stage to perform for President Barack Obama and First Lady, Michelle Obama, at the 91st Annual National Tree Lighting Ceremony.

These guys are on a journey to superstardom and this new adventure has been nothing short of spectacular. I am sure they are pinching themselves and each other for this is an opportunity of a lifetime.

Included along with Forte are: Mariah Carey, The Avett Brothers, Grammy award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, acclaimed soprano and musical ambassador Renée Fleming, multicultural operatic trio Forte, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, singer/songwriter Janelle Monáe, Latin music superstar Prince Royce, jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, the multiplatinum, Grammy-winning band Train, and Nolan Williams, Jr. and Voices of Inspiration.

They will be performing a medley of “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard On High“. Mmm. Sounds scrumptious.

The show will air on your local PBS station during the month of December.

If you cannot wait until your PBS station airs the show, you can stream it live and in color at 4:30 PM Eastern..

Until then, check out the pictures of the guys having a blast at The White House and during the rehearsal. Man, if I could be a fly on the wall…

The last picture includes my cousin, Paul Mascioli, who is the Personal Manager for Forte member, Fernando Varela.

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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

2 Responses to “[Photos, Stream Link]Forte, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin Set To Perform At The National Tree Lighting Ceremony”

  1. Hi Rosanne! Despite a pouring rain, Forte performed brilliantly, as always. They also appeared to have gotten the biggest applause of the show – even over Aretha Franklin & Mariah Carey! Here are some links of interest – first is the link to the National Parks Service who produces the Tree Lighting each year and this link has the national schedule of PBS stations and when they are carrying the broadcast of the performance; second, is the link to just Forte’s performance that night. (Many thanks to Julito Varela, Fernando’s brother, who taped it for all of us at the Forte Tenors Fan Page on Facebook)!

    http://thenationaltree.org/watch-on-pbs/

    Merry, Merry Christmas, Rosanne & Everyone!

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  2. PS – A couple of tidbits from that night, Fernando told us it was “probably the only time he would get to sing for a President of the United States”, “so he was going for broke, singing wise!” I told him he should patent that last (amazing) note! (Don’t miss it)! And many thanks to Hugo Boss for providing those gorgeous coats for their performance. (The guys were sad to learn they had to give them back after the show)… : )

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