Francesca Simone, a native of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, was active as a singer as a young girl. Miss Simone graduated from Providence College in 2007 with a B.A. in Vocal Performance, where she studied under Hillary Nicholson. She was the soprano soloist for the Providence College select choir, I Cantori, which toured extensively in the U.S. and abroad, including Russia, Italy and France. Miss Simone sang the lead soprano roles in the operas A Game of Chance (1st Knitter) by Seymour Barab, and The Telephone (Lucy) by Gian-Carlo Menotti. She has also performed scenes from Antony and Cleopatra (Cleopatra), Don Giovanni (Zerlina), Hansel and Gretel (Gretel), Mahagonny, and West Side Story.
Miss Simone was the guest performer for the Rhode Island State Ballet's Summer Festival in 2006 and collaborated with them for their Spring 2008 Production of Gansel and Hetal. She was chosen to perform the National Anthem at the 2007 Providence College Convocation and sang for over 11,000 people at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center during the 2007 Providence College Commencement Ceremony. Miss Simone secured first place in Providence College's First Annual Aria Competition.
Miss Simone sang the National Anthem for the RI Air National Guard Annual Air Show and the RI Army National Guard Leapfest. She was a guest performer at the Newport Music Festival.
Miss Simone is currently working towards her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at The Boston Conservatory, studying under Dr. Marilyn Bulli.
Miss Simone is a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award as well as the Congressional Award for Volunteer Public Service. She is a member of a local chapter of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She is the founder of FACT, Families of Alzheimer’s Carrying the Torch, through which she raises funding for the National Alzheimer’s Association and continues to spread awareness of Alzheimer’s disease within her community.
Francesca was crowned Miss Rhode Island in May and will promoting her platform Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness in addition to the Children’s Miracle Network. She will be competing for the title of Miss America in January of 2009.
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