Masterclass Discussion For America’s Got Talent Season Seven: The SemiFinals – Group One


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Off to the Semi-Finals we go! Tuesday evening’s America’s Got Talent will highlight the first group of twenty-four acts that secured a position in the semi-final stage of this wacky show.

The show airs at 8:00 P.M. on NBC when we will be treated to the best of the best.

Twelve acts are set to perform and on Wednesday’s 9:00 P.M. Results Show, we shall find out who moves on to the Finals in a couple of weeks.

Here are the Group One Semi-Finalists: (courtesy of Examiner.Com)

Singer Andrew De Leon
Dog ventriloquist Todd Oliver
Earth harp musician William Close
The Scott Brothers Dance Duo
Sand and Light Artist Joe Castillo
Singer Bria Kelly
Academy of Villains dance group
Comedian Tom Cotter
Donovan and Rebecca acrobats
Mind reader Eric Dittelman
Singer Edon
Contortionist dancer Turf

This is a mighty competitive line-up and I am sure you have your favorites. Please tell all in the comments section.

Good luck to all the performers this week.

Live Update:

  • Andrew De Leon is singing Gounod’s Ave Maria. Lots of strain in his voice and he jumbled the Latin lyrics. He needs training. And the judges are finally realizing what we all realized here in the MCL Community. He is too green and a bit of a poser I’m afraid. Ooh – sort of an arrogant attitude when answering the judges. Not good.
  • Todd Oliver and his talking dog are next. Well done. Nice Leno vibe and even Howard (who clearly detests Jay Leno) is laughing. Quick, witty dialogue. Good shtick.
  • Donovan and Rebecca are amazing athletes. Totally out of this world. And they took their act to new heights, so to speak. Their resilience and flexibility are flawless.
  • Edon is a wonderful young singer. But there are so many talented kids out there that can sing, so I am not sure if he will make the Finals. But, he has enjoyed well-deserved exposure through this show and this will jump start his musical career in a big way. Gorgeous performance nonetheless. Lots of confidence and a great, meaty sound for a young 13-year-old male artist.
  • The Scott Brothers are one of my favorite acts in the entire competition. Their creatively synchronized dance routine puts a huge smile on my face. They are quirky and fun and reminiscent of the vaudeville years. Their performance this week was a great change. Very futuristic and so very different. Love them.
  • Eric Dittlemann is quite possibly the best mind reader I have ever seen. And he never disappoints! Tonight’s trick was ridiculously jaw-dropping. How he duplicated Howard’s color selections is one for the books.
  • Turf is not human. The way he maneuvers his body, twisting and turning muscles and joints into weird positions is pretty freaky. Yet amazing and extraordinary. This dancer-contortionist knows no boundaries. I did love his performance this week. So fluid!
  • Bria Kelly is a 16-year-old country singer. She performs very well and has a lovely voice but does seem overwhelmed by the whole experience. Not a standout on a very competitive night of performances. Beautiful head voice ending to this song. Good job.
  • Joe Castillo tells such a beautiful story through his magical manipulation of plain old sand. It is a mesmerizing experience and spectacular in its creative element. What a gift this man has and what a privilege to witness yet another phenomenal performance. Bravo Joe!
  • William Close and The Earth Harp is an astounding act. Developing homemade instruments and molding them into truly a Las Vegas stage act requires stellar vision and creativity. The singers were not good tonight, though, and, in fact, jeopardized this act in its quest for the Final. However, the judges are clearly in this act’s corner, so they will probably move on.
  • Tom Cotter presented Comedy On Demand. Howie picked a subject and he, basically, ad-libbed. Great timing, great presence, great material. Loved it. He nailed it!
  • Academy Of Villains are an amazing dance troupe. I love their look, their creativity and combined stage presence. They lost one of their dancers due to injury but you would never have known it! This is the most proficient dance troupe I have ever seen. It is like something I have never ever seen – beyond explanation. They need to be in the Finals!! Vote people!
  • 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 “Masterclass Discussion For America’s Got Talent Season Seven: The SemiFinals – Group One”

    1. Hi Rosanne

      I agree with you on every critique. In my opinion I’d say almost every act was rightfully placed in the semi-finals and I’m like the judges …how most of them could be sent home is beyond me. Only 3 could stay, and I’ll say the 3 that did stay this week all should be there as well.

      My favorite acts this season have been Donovan & Rebecca, Turf and Eric Dittleman and last night they all were sent home. I’m not surprised at Turf going because as I’ve said I always thought the judges over praise of him would hurt him. Those who really like him, don’t vote because they see him as “safe” and over confidence kicks in and the performer relaxes in his performance.

      I must say I;m not totally surprised by Donovan & Rebecca either. The judges were always “wowed” and continually said as a result, a singers or dancer won’t win this season indicating that what we’ll probably see at the end is a “thrill acts” and as usual it backfires, and most of the thrill acts that they focused on, are gone.

      There are some phenomenal talents in my opinion who are still there from round one of the semi finals and while I love all 3, who my eye is on, is William Close. In my opinion although he is still a musician, his act is far beyond what you’d call a normal musical act and this week he truly stepped it up.

      I;m truly going to miss seeing some of those performers. Hopefully they’ll bring their show to Detroit and I’ll get a chance to see them again.

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    2. There were some wonderful performances last week, and it was hard to narrow them down to only three people. I’m quite pleased that William Close is moving on–what a talented man!!!

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