Musicians

The Parish of South Carleton is blessed to have so many musicians who share their gifts with us each week.

Anna Ragogna

Over 27 years ago Anna joined the church family at Holy Trinity North Gower and began singing in the choir. It wasn’t long before her additional talents on the guitar were realized and she began playing her guitar as well!

Anna started playing guitar at St Rocks elementary school in Toronto when she was 12. ‘I played in the choir back then, 4 of my friends who also played guitar joined me to sing at my moms wedding in the church when she remarried. I also started my own junior choir in the school for the children who were too young to join the school choir back then.  That was grade 2’s and under. I ended up leading a young group of 30 children for my last year of grade school (grade 8). They sang once a month for our parish (St Rock) Sunday service for the whole school year. I ended up getting an audition for them on Tiny Talent Time which was a TV show out of Hamilton. They made it on, the whole choir singing Battle Hymn of the Republic and two sets of twins singing The Squaws Along the Yukon.  I remember I had to find rides for all of them to get there from Toronto, all the parents were happy to drive their children as they would be on TV, channel 11.’

RoWena Pearl

Rowena is one of the pianists at The Parish of South Carleton.

With her unique enthusiasm, Rowena Pearl’s talent shines bright as she engages all ages in making music. She brings her love to audiences as a music director of school, church, community choirs as well as local theatres. Rowena has been a popular music teacher introducing a love of piano and ukulele to many students. Rowena has been regularly involved in putting together an annual Christmas community music event, performed period pieces during the summer at the Dickenson House in Manotick, has performed as the music director for several years for the pick-up choir at the Grassroots Festival in Ottawa, and is a recurring musical director with the Smiths Falls Railway Theatre’s summer productions. During her spare time, she works for the Ottawa School board and runs a decor store with her husband in Kemptville called Stevens Creek Decor Centre.

Rowena lives in Kars with her husband and is the mother of 3 grown boys.