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
November 14, 2012 
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Loved Tate…his back up singers needs to go home!!!
Loved Beatrice…just didn’t love that song, I would have love for her to do an Adele song!
Loved Fifth Harmony…the first girl that sang is my favorite!!!
CeCe…really needs to go home!
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Carly Rose was outstanding! She brought just enough of her musical theater side to make this Celine Dion classic her own but also retain pop star credibility. Her performance of this song was so much better than the one we heard on The Voice this week because, not only can she can sing on key but she didn’t try to imitate Celine. Tate was hot on her heels tonight covering MCL’s former student. I would have to disagree with Simon and Demi, Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” was perfect for Vino. While his voice was right for the song, the gansta slump, lurk and grope performance style cost him a lot of points with me. Most of the others were boring to me or took a while to get up to speed. The top three seem to be the same but in a slightly different order. I would like to see Janelle performing at a higher level. Maybe she will have a few more shots at it.
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Gene…I agree with you about Vino, I liked him singing that song, but yeah the gangsta attitude should not be present.
I liked Carly’s song too…but….!!! There is no room for her to grow, she came to this competition, confident and powerful, the others are growing before our eyes!!! Tate being the most ready to move on to a career, but I agreed with Simon last night, he is getting more confident, maybe to many years of hearing no has left him vulnerable and lacking in self confidence; so I can’t wait to see him full of confidence….then we are watching a few others who were full of themselves getting knocked down a few steps…Emblem 3…CeCe…
I think song choice last night hurt a few…
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Gene -lol at your Shania – former student remark. Yes, she was in my choir. Spunky little thing. But never took formal lessons from me. I did initiate vocal training during choral rehearsals but not sure how much she absorbed. Lol.
Anyway, last night’s show was a mess. I liked Carly, Vino, the kids that did the hip-hop Queen version of “We Will Rock You”, and Emblem 3.
I found myself agreeing with Simon all night. Which means the world is quickly coming to an end!!
And Demi needs to grow up. So juvenile and bratty. Saying to LA Reid that “CeCe is better than your little Vinooo” in that annoying voice was unprofessional and uncalled for. And untrue!
I prefer Britney’s quiet and succinct observations over Demi’s any day of the week.
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Oh – I forgot Tate. Meh. Did not like his song choice. He sang the !!??? out of it but for some reason I was unmoved by it. Just didn’t ring true.
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Vonnie,
I think Carly does have room to grow in the area of developing her pop performance style and defining her personal style musically. She did bring a lot to the competition though. I hope that she can find music to suite her abilities in her career and not just turn out albums of teeny pop pabulum.
With his early peak, I’m afraid that Simon will turn his back on Tate near the end of the competition, as he did with several Idol artists. If he can continue to grow and find the right songs to suit his voice and style, ole Tater has a bright future.
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MCL,
You have me laughing now. Was your explanation of your time with Shania an example of plausible deniability?
I’m sure you know this already, but I heard a term for that annoying valley girl speaking style that Demi and an alarming number of young women, and even some men, use today. They call one of those techniques “frying.” It’s that strained nasally, whinny, thing where statements sound like questiooooons that drives me crazy. As you said, Demi was particularly annoying last night, especially the remark about Vino, but I have been surprised at her maturity in some other situations. She was pretty good at mentoring her team at her house and, though I didn’t agree with her choices, I thought she handled herself well when making her cuts.
Forgive my weakness, but I was distracted by how good Britney looked last night (so glad she found her makeup bag)that I don’t recall anything she said except “I don’t get it” to Cee Cee. I don’t get Cee Cee either, but I thought the first part of her performance was as close to being on the right track as she has been so far. The rest was a disaster. She is over due to go home.
I have found myself agreeing with many of Simon’s statements this year too. I am highly suspicious that he has hired better writers than he used to have. Over the years on Idol and his other ventures he has demonstrated a fairly limited knowledge of music prior to about 1985 or so but this year he has made a few references to singers from a much earlier era that made me believe he had outside help. There have been other out of character remarks from him as well, but those really got my attention.
You are so right about the out of tune singers on these shows this season. Do you think they may have quit auto tuning in response to fans commenting / complaining about it? Or maybe they are using it as a growth tool so their singing will seem improved later in the season when they begin using it again.
Tate’s song choice was pretty odd. I cringed when they said it was going to be diva night and again when he announced his song choice but he pulled it off fairly well. So far they have been smart enough not to mess with Tate very much.
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Oh Gene – me and my Shania stories. It was a long time ago and she was a very ambitious, very tenacious young talent. Unfortunately, she refused to take direction and she was not a team player.
She has grown since then and, in looking back, probably acted this way out of frustration and lack of resources. She was very poor. Very. You try to help but she had to learn her own way and on her own terms. And she did. She is a superstar. Ad I wish her nothing but the very best.
Now…… Moving on!! Yes, no auto tune is a very good thing and the lack of lip synching is a good thing as well. Although, I do suspect the groups are receiving some technical help. Not 100% positive but it sounds too artificial at times.
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Really…CeCe moves up the leader board??????
MCL…Lol, wasn’t we just talking about Taylor Swift?
Brittany…please, please have Beatrice sing an Adele song next week!!!!!!!!
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Oh! And LA….please, please have Tate sing a Garth Brooks song next week…any will do, but I especially like “To make you feel my love” OR “Rodeo”!!!
Thank you and Brittany in advance! 🙂
Vonnie
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I am in total agreement with you, Vonnie! Tate would fit right in with the Country community. He was my favorite from the beginning! I hope he wins. He just needs to tone his muscles (hahaha…) and he’s ready to open up for someone!
Constantine came to mind! Now, look at him…he’s on his way for a second Tony Award nomination. Love him or hate him, the guy can sang! If Simon was smart, he would just let things go with the flow.
The only time I want to see smoke, wind, dancers, and special effect is when it gets to the TOP TWO – or is it three? Never, never, never auto-tuning! And I mean never!
MCL, I love your sharing about Shania! ❤
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Gene, my blockquote didn’t work. Oops. MCL, my heart didn’t work either!
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Kariann,
I hope Tate wins too…!!! He and Beatrice are my favs! 🙂
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Vonnie. This is so funny. How did CeCe get more votes than Emblem 3? Haha. And, yes, there was Taylor Swift as well. She was cute though but did she lip-synch? Or use auto-tune? Her voice sounded artificial.
I love Beatrice as well. Adele not so much haha. She was given an horrible song. Deserves better.
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KariAnn. Glad you liked the Shania stories. Everyone in this community has one – well everyone who was involved in music!! Haha.
Yes, I love Tate as well but to sing a Shania song was just so wrong for his voice.
Garth Brooks!! Yes – Vonnie hit the nail on the head. I wonder if he has cleared his songs for these reality shows ? I don’t ever recall hearing any. Have you?
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MCL…Yes! Josh Gracin sang one of Garth’s songs on idol…Tate’s voice would be perfect for Garth’s song’s!
Lol, I think Taylor was lipsyncing too…she sound to in tune!!! 🙂
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Vonnie – totally agree. Lol. Oh yes, forgot about Josh’s performance. It seems odd though that other country singers over the years haven’t covered Garth. He has some terrific songs.
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He really does…I wonder if it’s because he has been out of the industry for so long that the younger contestants don’t know his music?
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i think bucky sang garth on idol.
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thunder road.
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oops, ‘thunder rolls’. bruce springsteen sang ‘thunder road’. 🙂
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Vonnie’s suggestion of “To Make You Feel My Love” for Tate sounds like a good one to me. I suspect that the reason that you don’t hear many covers of Garth Brooks on the singing competition shows today is because his music isn’t sold on iTunes. Not only are they a sponsor but they are used as reference material for the singers to learn songs from. That may not have been the case in the past but he has an exclusive with Wal-Mart today. That particular song should be easy to get approved though because it’s a Bob Dylan song and, in addition to Garth’s and Adel’s versions of it, hundreds of other artists have recorded it over the years.
Tate sounds a lot like Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn to me, especially in his initial audition. Brooks and Dunn recorded a lot of ‘one woman man” and “hard working regular guy songs,” either type would be just right for Tates personal story. A few good ones for him would be:
She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind
Cowgirls Don’t Cry
It’s Gettin’ Better All The Time
Brand New Man
She used to be Mine
That Ain’t No Way to Go
Hard Workin’ Man
My Maria (I’m not sure if he has the range for it though)
I Believe (would be my favorite if it could be shortened without losing too much of the story)
I’m pretty sure all of these songs have charted number one, and at least one was a song of the year.
Tate should also do some Alan Jackson.
Remember When
Sissy’s Song
A House With no Curtains
Drive
I hope Tate will stay more on the traditional country side of the ride and less on the “all hat, no cattle” pop country side.
Here is a good article regarding Taylor Swift.
http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/keys-to-taylor-swifts-success-every-artist-can-learn-from
I’m sure you will be surprised at the paragraphs numbered 1 and 2 and you can gain an understanding of why her fans are so loyal to her and why she has sold more albums and singles than Justin Bieber, and Carrie Underwood; CONBINED, well almost, but you get the point.
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Side of the “road” not ride.
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Gene – I didn’t know that Garth Brooks’ music is not available on ITunes. That seems so strange.
Of course, The Beatles’ music was unavailable until a couple of years ago but still… Can’t compare the two acts. The Beatles were a phenomenon.
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great article gene, thanks.
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i believe i read that garth didn’t want his songs ‘separated’, that in an album, each song adds to and builds from the other.
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MCL,
Yeah, the Beatles were, and still are to a lesser extent, as much of a cultural phenomenon as a musical one but statistically Garth Brooks goes back and forth with Elvis for second overall behind The Beatles and first in album sales for American acts. There is a huge difference in sales between either Elvis or Garth and the Beatles but I was surprised that he was in that position. Michael Jackson follows them.
Also of interest, and tying in with your comment about Demi’s bratty behavior last week, was her next comment when LA challenged her to say something smarta** to Britney. She said something like you can’t talk that way to the queen. Well, she was right to call Britney the Queen. Her album sales exceed 100 million and Demi’s hover just over one million. In round numbers, Taylor Swift was around 25 million. The Fab Four are approaching three billion (with a B) total album sales with 585 million attributed to iTunes sales. Garth might want to reconsider.
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Hunter,
I thought the article about Taylor was interesting as well. I doubt that she is the favorite singer of very many adults but as a grandfather of two little girls, I’m glad she promotes and lives by decent values, including giving an honest performance.
She did a spoof guest appearance with the duo Civil Wars who recorded her song “Safe and Sound” with her.
I think this recording is just from an audience member but Taylor was caught singing in a pleasant manor. The official video is better but I thought this one illustrates that she can sing better than I would normally give her credit for.
I didn’t know that Garth Brooks had said that about his albums being sold intact, but that is how I prefer to buy music as well. It probably goes back to “Pet Sounds” and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” for me.
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Hunter – many artists, myself included, treat the tracks on their CDs like scenes from a story. It’s part of the creative process and is similar to what one would experience at a concert. So I understand and respect that.
That being said, Garth has to get with the technology. ITunes allows the customer to enjoy their favorite songs without purchasing the entire CD.
And, from Gene’s statistics, it seems that The Beatles have enjoyed mega millions since their collaboration with iTunes.
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