ANN ANELLO

As a child of six, she would interrupt errands for her mother and descend into the local subway station to vocalize in “competition” with the express train.  “I wanted to have that kind of power in my voice.”  Her parents were quick to recognize the presence of star quality in their midst.  With their encouragement, she soon was exposed to the very best in career training, studying with the legendary vocal coach, Carlo Menotti and world renowned acting teacher, Lee Strasberg. Ann is an honors graduate of Marymount Manhattan College/Mannes College of Music. She was also elected to “WHO’S WHO” among students in American universities and colleges 1996-1997 in recognition of outstanding merit and accomplishment.

As of 2020,  Ann is a professor of Musical Theatre at Florida International University. In 2022 she was named the Chairwoman of the Florida International University's School of Music Advisory Board.

At the age of five she became part of the “Golden Age” of live television, as a soloist on the weekly “The Children’s Hour,” where she was often called on to deliver the program’s commercials. Her appearances brought her to the attention of Tin Pan Alley legendary composer Harry Ravel (“Did You Ever See A Dream Walking?” “With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming”). It was Ravel who shaped her early career developing her stage talent, providing her piano accompaniment and, most of all, teaching her that, “You have to have personality when you sing, you have to put some pizzazz into it,” – a lesson the then 7 year old learned well.