Joanna Simon (born April 23, 1940) is an American mezzo-soprano and
currently a Manhattan-based real estate broker. She is the sister of
Carly and Lucy Simon.Joanna Simon was born in New York City, the
daughter of the co-founder of the book publisher Simon & Schuster,
Inc., Richard L. Simon and Andrea (Heinemann) Simon, a former
switchboard operator, civil rights activist, and singer. Her father
was from a German Jewish family, while her maternal grandfather
Friedrich was also of German descent. Joanna's maternal grandmother,
known as "Chibie", was a Catholic from Cuba, and was of pardo
heritage, a freed-slave descendant (the show Finding Your Roots tested
Carly Simon's DNA as 10% African and 2% Indigenous). Her grandmother
was sent to England and raised by nuns until the age of sixteen.Simon
grew up in Fieldston, a section of Riverdale in the Bronx. The eldest
of four, Simon has two sisters and a brother: rock musician, singer
and songwriter Carly Simon (b. 1945), musician and composer Lucy Simon
(b. 1943), and Peter Simon (b. 1947), a photo journalist.Joanna began
piano lessons at the age of six, and then became interested in acting
while in high school, deciding that was to be her career. Acting
continued until halfway through college, when she became interested in
the art of musical comedy. Singing lessons commenced at this point
with Dr. Marion Freschl, who advised her to switch to opera. She
graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, majoring in philosophy. Opera
studies continued with Dr. Freschl and then at the International Opera
Studio directed by Herbert Graf in Zurich and at Spoleto with Gian
Carlo Menotti.
currently a Manhattan-based real estate broker. She is the sister of
Carly and Lucy Simon.Joanna Simon was born in New York City, the
daughter of the co-founder of the book publisher Simon & Schuster,
Inc., Richard L. Simon and Andrea (Heinemann) Simon, a former
switchboard operator, civil rights activist, and singer. Her father
was from a German Jewish family, while her maternal grandfather
Friedrich was also of German descent. Joanna's maternal grandmother,
known as "Chibie", was a Catholic from Cuba, and was of pardo
heritage, a freed-slave descendant (the show Finding Your Roots tested
Carly Simon's DNA as 10% African and 2% Indigenous). Her grandmother
was sent to England and raised by nuns until the age of sixteen.Simon
grew up in Fieldston, a section of Riverdale in the Bronx. The eldest
of four, Simon has two sisters and a brother: rock musician, singer
and songwriter Carly Simon (b. 1945), musician and composer Lucy Simon
(b. 1943), and Peter Simon (b. 1947), a photo journalist.Joanna began
piano lessons at the age of six, and then became interested in acting
while in high school, deciding that was to be her career. Acting
continued until halfway through college, when she became interested in
the art of musical comedy. Singing lessons commenced at this point
with Dr. Marion Freschl, who advised her to switch to opera. She
graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, majoring in philosophy. Opera
studies continued with Dr. Freschl and then at the International Opera
Studio directed by Herbert Graf in Zurich and at Spoleto with Gian
Carlo Menotti.
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