by Anthony Parente

Many people may not realize that at the age of 16 you were viciously attacked (your throat and vocal chords were severed) and as a result you were in a coma for about 18 months. I am sure this is not easy to talk about, but can you tell us what led to this attack and who was it that ultimately did this to you?
I will never reveal the name of the person who attacked me for security reaosns. Unfortunately, this man has never paid for what he has done because of powerful friends who protected him. However I have decided to turn this tragedy around and today I am making a movie based on my life story I have written a book entitled THE STRENGTH INSIDE OF YOU, that encourages people to bounce back from almost anything that life throws at you. The attack has happened because I was covering up for this man who is also a singer. I was in Australia with him on a tour for the Italian American community. He decided to sing under false circumstances. He put a tape on and moved his lips, but the tape broke during his performance and I was the one that had to save the show with an acappella version of AVE MARIA. Needless to say that I have become a star in Australia and the media loved me, but he was criticized and asked not to come back to lie to the Italians. He revenged himself by attacking me, a young girl like me, and I was even a fan of his. Can you believe it?

When you finally came out of your coma, and we are thankful that you did, what/who motivated you to want to sing again?
There is a song by Diane Warren. She has written pratically for every single major singer in the world. Celine Dion, Tony Braxton, Mariah Carey and so many. She has written a song called BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME and there is a line in that song that said "YOU GAVE ME VOICE WHEN I COULDN'T SPEAK." I fell in love with a man who was next to me every moment, including during surgeries and they were very painful moments. That song gave me power to go on. Music is my life and it almost killed me, but I am glad I believed in God and he gave me a voice five octaves higher than before. It was like a miracle. It's also incredible that today Diane Warren and I became friends and I am the only artist in the whole world to be endorsed by her and I will bring across the Country a series of concerts dedicated to her wonderful songs.

How long and how much work did it take for you to regain your voice?
It took me three years to go back to move my legs and arms and another year to sing again. I have lost fame and success, but I have walked by faith and not by sight and today I am a full soprano performing with the biggest tenors of the world!

There is a movie on your life story that is in the works. Do you know when it will be released?
I am working with Katherin Pacino, step mother of Al Pacino the actor. His father who just died Sal Pacino was the only father I have ever known. Katherin has been developing the story and we are in preproduction right now. I will be able to tell you more about it very soon, but you can order the book on my website at www.rominaonline.com.

What have been some of your most notable accomplishments to date?
It's so hard for me to choose the most notable ones. Singing for the Pope before he died at the Vatican, singing at the White House, singing on Broadway, singing on Celine Dion's stage, singing with Andrea Bocelli and Mario Frangoulis and Michael Amante, singing on PBS for my for first special and now I just have become the spokes person for the organization for peace and understanding in the Middle East. And I will be doing concerts with Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Liza Minnelli and the famous Bulgarian star Krassimir.