Joanna Simon (mezzo-soprano)

Joanna Simon (born October 20, 1940) is an American mezzo-soprano and currently a Manhattan-based real estate broker. She is the sister of musicians Carly and Lucy Simon (see also Simon Sisters).

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 Jewish and her mother was Roman Catholic of half Spanish and half Swiss descent. Family lore holds that Joanna's grandmother was also of partial "Moorish" origin based on her exotic looks.

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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