ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | Thursday, January 30, 2014 |
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Student, 7, gets gold for acing RCM exam CYNTHIA REASON creason@insidetoronto.com Etobicoke violinist Rosanna Scopacasa was recently presented with the Royal Conservatory of Music’s provincial gold medal for scoring top marks on her Grade 1 violin exam. Rosanna, a Grade 1 student at St. Gregory Catholic School who just turned seven, said the exam was a tough one. “It was hard and some songs were really fast and fun, and had all this fancy fingering,” she said. “I even made a mistake, but I still got the gold medal. It made me feel really proud.” Rosanna’s parents, Sal and Shirley, first enrolled their daughter in preschool music programs when she was just a toddler, and by the time she was four, decided to sign her up for violin lessons on the advice of her music teachers. Today, in addition to her twiceweekly violin lessons through the Etobicoke Suzuki Music School and daily practice sessions at home, Rosanna is also a member of the
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When I grow up I want to be an artist, a violinist, a pianist, a dancer, and a singer - oh, and a doctor, too. – Rosanna Scopacasa, 7
Young Voices Toronto Children’s Choir. “She’s always shown a keen interest in music, and she really seems to enjoy the violin, which is very important to us. She takes a lot of enjoyment from playing the songs and putting on little concerts for our family and friends,” said Sal, who himself played the accordion as a child. “We think music is important in the early development of children. Music is just another language that children can explore and develop.” As for Rosanna’s most recent accomplishment, Shirley said both she and her husband are “so very, very proud” of all she’s been able to achieve at such a young age. Rosanna received her gold medal,
plus a certificate for achieving “first class honours with distinction” on her Grade 1 violin exam at a ceremony Jan. 12 at Koerner Hall, in The Royal Conservatory’s TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning. “We’re so happy that she has this talent. It’s just amazing,” Shirley said. “I’m amazed and I’m in awe.” But despite all her recent accolades, Sal said he and Shirley are committed to keeping their young daughter grounded. “We try to let her know that these type of awards are achieved through hard work, dedication and commitment to practicing and playing. We just hope it doesn’t get to her head,” he laughed. “She’s pretty good, so we’re kind of preaching the importance of being grounded.” As for Rosanna, she’s not letting her violin talent stand in the way of pursuing her other dreams. “When I grow up I want to be an artist, a violinist, a pianist, a dancer, and a singer – oh, and a doctor, too,” she said.
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For more information on the Royal Conservatory of Music, go to www. rcmusic.ca
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Staff photo/CYNTHIA REASON
Seven-year-old violinist Rosanna Scopacasa, a Grade 1 student at St. Gregory’s Catholic School, won the Royal Conservatory of Music’s provincial gold medal.
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