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
August 12, 2008 
Masterclass Lady On MySpace.Com
Vocalist.Org
MasterClassLady.Com 
MCL, I don’t know if you’ve been watching the Olympics, but “Time Of My Life” is the song that NBC is using to play over its closing credits (it was used in a montage at the ESPYs last month too and was featured on “So You Think You Can Dance?”). Who would have foreseen this when most of us were cringing over the fact that Cook’s first single would have they lyrics “magic rainbow” in it?!
LikeLike
Againstthedyingofthelight,
I have noticed that too! I was thrilled/excited when I heard it on SYTYCD and then even more excited to hear it on NBC! It is such a perfect song to capture “the moments”! I think AI did a fantastic job with the song choice this year and Cookie sounds wonderful when he sings it!
LikeLike
The video of SYTYCD Season 4 recap. David’s song starts at about 1:30. I just watched it and it gave me chills! Way to go, David! You peform the song so well, I just love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJYd9Y5aBrQ
LikeLike
Time Of My Life was on SYTYCD? I have to watch more TV and I can’t believe I am not glued to the Olympics!! That’s it – tonight I “veg” with the Olympics. everything else can wait.
And I have to get on board with SYTYCD. Everyone i know seems to be watching it this season.
Thanks for the info!
LikeLike
MCL NOTE: The following news in italics was added to an older blog entry, so I cut and pasteed it to this blog topic. Enjoy! great news about Melinda Doolittle.
louise7 Says:
August 11, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Louise7 Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 09:44 AM EST
This past week Melinda finally finished the vocals on her CD! All of that happens quickly then we can expect to see her CD on shelves this Fall! Also, keep your eye out for her first official single that should be hitting airwaves in the coming weeks. Melinda is going to be throwing a lot of music at us in the coming months so get ready!
New website to support Melinda Career and album. http://www.mdstreetteam.com Melinda have her own topic there so she can keep in touch with her fans (backup) that she like to call us. Come join us.
LikeLike
Isn’t it great, MCL?! It is nice to see the Idols getting recognized like this, I love it! If you go to youtube and type “SYTYCD David Cook” it may come up. I will see if I can’t find the link…it is a beautiful dance: It’s a Viennese Waltz!
I found it! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCzHOwO_HOk&feature=related
LikeLike
Thanks so much Bizzee. Looking forward to seeing it. Great news for singers, for sure!
LikeLike
I think David’s voice contrasted against the schmaltzy lyrics is what makes the song work. He roughs it up.
Archie was hilarious when he said (referring to his pristine vocal style being used to sing a treacly song like this), “If I sang it, a rainbow would probably actually appear behind me!”
Hands down, the BEST line of the season!
LikeLike
Definitely the best line of the season. He is so darn cute and witty. I love people that can retain a sense of humor about themselves. To me, it makes them more endearing.
LikeLike
David Nominated For Best Smile TCA Post Show Ballot
So, those of you who live in the US, go vote!!
LikeLike
Here’s the latest updates on Clay, Syesha, Simon, Daughtry, Taylor, Nigel, etc.
American Idol Vital News, August 14: It’s A Boy!
by Sting7 — 08/14/2008 foxesonidol.com
In this installment, find out the details on the birth of Clay Aiken’s son. Has Idol lost its allure in Puerto Rico? What has led to Nigel Lythgoe’s departure from Idol? Right now, who’s calling Carrie Underwood? Which other Nashville Star is a former Idol? And how long will you need to wait for more Chris Daughtry (right)? The details are here!
The Birth of the Clayby!
Clay Aiken and his good friend Jaymes Foster are the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy! Parker Foster Aiken was born on August 8, 2008 (which makes his birthday 8/8/08! It has also been reported in some corners that Parker weighed 8 lbs 8 oz., and was born at 8:08 AM, but that would just be creepy, wouldn’t it?) at a hospital in Aiken’s homes state of North Carolina.
“My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken,” he said in a statement, adding Parker is, “healthy, happy and as loud as his daddy” and that Foster “is doing quite well.”
Foster personally asked Clay to be the father of her child via artificial insemination. Foster met Aiken while he appeared on American Idol in season two.
In other Clay-news, looks like Clay will be returning to Spamalot on Broadway for a reported four-month stint. That’s good news for the play’s financiers, as Aiken brought a surge in tickets sales and after he left, the sales went with him.
American Meh?
The folks in San Juan Puerto Rico apparently didn’t get the memo that American Idol was coming to town. Or, they just didn’t care. El Nuevo Dia is reporting that just 300 people showed up for the first Idol auditions to take place in the nation (or outside the country anywhere) – a stark contrast to the thousands who showed up in San Francisco and Salt Lake City just days earlier.
American Idol has been completely mum about the Puerto Rico disappointment. It will be interesting to see how this is handled when the auditions start airing in January 2009.
Taylor Turns Back the Clock
Sure, you have heard that Taylor Hicks lost his record deal. The record that label captained was one that he himself wasn’t all that excited about, according to some reports. But, Taylor did feel better about his pre-Idol albums, and his fans will have a chance to hear them.
Modern Whomp Records has been given authority to release the songs on In Your Time and Under the Radar, Hicks’ pre-Idol albums, in one reissued collection. It is available exclusive at Target stores.
“These two albums represent who I am and who I am trying to represent as a songwriter. ‘Nostalgic’ and ‘endearing’ are the terms that best describe them.” Hicks says. There is also a live DVD called Whomp at the Warfield that will be available. Taylor is also working on a new album that he hopes to release in early 2009.
‘Before He Cheats,’ He Calls?
If Jessica’s boots are made for walkin’, she may want to warm them up when she hears this! Carrie Underwood tells Allure that her famous ex, Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo still calls. Not that she’s interested. “The phone will ring and it’ll be him, and I’ll maybe not answer,” says Underwood. But, Carrie characterizes the relationship as more of a friendship than anything else, “We were both small town people doing very big things, and we relied on each other, dealing with fame.”
Carrie’s bad luck with the boys continues, as she has split with Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford… via text message! “We didn’t have a fight. No one cheated,” she told Allure. “It plain didn’t work.”
Stripper-Gate Revisited
David Hernandez from season seven will be joining Constantine Maroulis and Vonzell Solomon on this week’s version of San Francisco’s Nikko Hotel’s revolving cast of Idol finalists. He’s also been recording music to hopefully release on an album. But, is he really done with American Idol?
He still has ties to the show and his fellow contestants, he says, “”I do things for them, correspondence, appearances.” David says he is grateful to American Idol, but does wonder about his elimination. “I won’t bash the show, but I don’t think that my song choice was a determining factor in me being voted off. Once people got wind of (the allegations that he was a stripper in a gay club), they were less inclined to vote for someone who was a stripper.”
“I think it’s funny,” said Hernandez. “I never denied being a stripper. Since the whole thing broke, I couldn’t talk about other things, I just didn’t want to discuss that. I was just like, ‘I used to be a stripper; it’s not a big deal.'”
Later this year, he’ll be touring with Justin Guarini and other Idol alums in Idols at Christmas.
Additional Daughtry
Do you find yourself counting down the days until Daughtry’s new album is released? Relief is on the way, in the form of a tide-you-over until the new LP hits stores. Daughtry is being re-released on September 9 with some new tracks added. The quadruple-platinum album will have the songs you have played until your CD has begged for mercy, as well as acoustic versions of “What About Now” and “Home,” as well as a live version of “It’s Not Over.” The re-release will also feature a cover of the Foreigner classic “Feels Like the First Time.”
There is also a bonus DVD with videos for “It’s Not Over,” “Home,” “Over You,” “Feels Like Tonight” and “What About Now,” also with concert clips for “Breakdown” and “There and Back Again.” Hope that helps!
By the way, Daughtry will be performing at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Not because he’s sitting on a fence, but to promote the ONE Campaign, which raises awareness about global poverty, hunger, and disease.
Country Loves Covington
In a quiet way, Bucky Covington has begun to stamp out a significant career in country music. Of course, with the size of the shadow Carrie Underwood casts, it’s no wonder! But, Bucky Covington from season five has a successful album and has scored three hit country singles since he’s been on the Idol stage.
“Going into Idol, I thought I had it all figured out,” he said. “And then I quickly figured out just how green I was. I had a good sense of what I wanted to do, but I still had a lot to learn. And the main thing I learned was, ‘Shut up and listen.'”
Though he still doesn’t see himself as a songwriter, Bucky was smart enough to collaborate with another reality show veteran – Sawyer Brown vocalist Mark Miller (oh yes, Sawyer Brown came from the original Star Search). “I can’t find anyone to say a bad word about Mark,” Bucky said. “He’s an incredible guy, and he’s laid down some great platforms for me. When he tells you something, that’s what it’s gonna be.”
He’s working with Miller on his follow-up album as we speak. He says they are taking their time with the second offering, but he feels confident in the songs already.
Don’t Fence Me In
Syesha Mercado graciously accepted the comments from American Idol’s judges that she had a great skill set for Broadway, but she never actually bought in to that as a career path, necessarily. This is why the public reaction to her has been “confusing.”
Fans everywhere seem to say “Can’t wait to see you on Broadway,” as if this was a predetermined thing. “I kind of got sad, and a little down and disturbed,” Syesha said of her immediate reaction to the well-meaning comments. “I want to do lots of things! I would like to record an album. I love acting, so Broadway would be great, but that’s not all there is to me.”
Another Idol Speedbump
One thing that American Idol deserves credit for is, while the process isn’t perfect, it does find great talent in those auditions. Even if that talent isn’t treated especially well or acknowledged in the best way.
Newly-crowned Nashville Star Melissa Lawson is also a former Idol finalist. An experience that she doesn’t exactly treasure, “I competed season four and made the top 75, but after going through all of that, I never got airtime at all. It was almost a slap in the face, and it just made me feel like there was no validation there at all, no respect for the time that was put in. It just made me feel horrible.”
But, Lawson isn’t slamming Idol, she is just noting how many no’s she’s had to get before receiving that elusive big yes! Actually, Lawson says she still watches and loves the show. Her immediate future includes serious studio time with Nashville Star judge (and enthusiastic Idol basher) John Rich to get her debut album out while the iron is still hot.
Simon Goes Back To Work
The new season of X-Factor will premiere this week in the United Kingdom, and the tabloids are thrilled! Not because they love the show so much, but because X-Factor is guar-an-teed to create headlines. It always has. From the not-so-private feud between Sharon Osborne and Dannii Minogue, to the famous water tossing incident between Sharon and Louis Walsh, to the now annual round of firings, X-Factor makes news. And, at the center of it all… the boss, Simon Cowell.
Though the show is constantly controversial, it’s always been about the talent first. What is Simon looking for this year? “I want someone who is going to represent this country all over the world over the next ten, twenty years – that’s what I’m looking for,” Cowell explains, “I want somebody who is different and unique. I want to find somebody as good as Amy Winehouse – I’d love to do that.”
So, Simon is hoping to find gold again, “I’ll never forget the day that Leona Lewis walked into the audition room and I want to have that same feeling again… it’s not always the obvious ones.”
Nigel Wants A Life
As discussed last week, Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is leaving for greener pastures. Recently, Nigel explained a little more about the reasons behind his decision. “(Producing American Idol) is 24/7 and then some, you know. So you just need to get away from it. I’ve done it for seven seasons now.” Therefore, he decided it was simply time to “get myself a life!”
“I want something new to go forward with. And I’ve got lots of ideas that I want to develop, to be honest. But it’s a waiting game. I’ve got to sell them and then I’ve got to develop them.”
When asked whether anything surprises him anymore with the shows he’s involved with, he doesn’t admit to being shocked, but there are results he’s not happy with, “Losing Will (on this season’s So You Think You Can Dance) was like losing a Tamyra Gray or a Chris Daughtry!”
Is he surprised by which David is wearing the American Idol crown? “I couldn’t be surprised because I knew the results leading up to that position,” Nigel says, “I think Archuleta performed better than Cook did [in the finale], but I think the nation looked at [the whole season] and balanced out who they liked.”
LikeLike
Wow Wadahoot. You mean business. Thank you for so thoroughly researching all these pertinent news stories and adding them to this blog.
Hmmm – I wonder who will replace Nigel and what changes will occur as a result of his absence? This is the story that intigues me the most.
And, nice to see that Taylor is back on track and releasing a new album that will highlight his strengths as a soulful blues artist. Good for him.
LikeLike