Rosa Savoia was born in Brooklyn and grew up in a large Italian
family. She began singing at 12 and finds it as much fun now as
then.
While in elementary school, one of her teachers noticed her voice
and considered it worth developing. The teacher, Mrs. Marian Cox,
took young Rosa under her guidance and gave her daily voice lessons.
However, before long, the study of music became so serious and
all-absorbing, that the young student went to live in the Cox
household.
Miss Savoia began her singing career as a scholarship student with
the renowned composer-coach, Frank LaForge. He accepted the
young singer as his protege. In addition, lessons in sight reading,
French, acting and other related skills were on her agenda.
After graduation from high school, she continued this rigorous
discipline, developing her God given talent.
Deciding not to go to college, her
private tutoring was of high quality. The priests of
St. John's College gave her instruction in elocution,
rhetoric and speech. Soon she debuted with the
New York City Opera Company and traveled all over the U. S.
and Canada.
Enrica Clay Dillon, renowned dramatic teacher of many stars of
stage, screen, and opera, coached her in basic stage techniques.
Later, Miss Savoia completed her operatic-dramatic training with
Leopold Sachse of the
Metropolitan Opera Company.
Fritz Reiner, director of the Pittsburgh Symphony, chose her for the
soprano lead in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony when she was only twenty
years old.
Miss Savoia made her debut with the New York City Opera Company as
Micaela in Carmen.
