SANTA CRUZ, CA, April 10, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to honor Constance R. Fortunato with inclusion in Who's Who in the World. An accomplished listee, Mrs. Fortunato celebrates many years' experience in her professional network and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Fortunato has dedicated more than five decades advancing the power of music in social transformation and humanitarian outreach, shaping a career marked by innovation, compassion and global impact. In 2002, she founded Canticum Novum/Music Camp International, where she developed curriculum, trained teachers and initiated on-location Music Camps for over 40,000 young people in Romania and Ukraine. In 2025, under her leadership, the organization underwent a rebranding to Songrise International to accommodate the global expansion and addition of virtual projects in Kenya and India, with plans to expand to Zambia and Egypt in 2026. These projects will include children in orphanages, the slums of New Delhi - the same community in which Mother Teresa once worked, and a school for Sudanese refugees in Cairo, Egypt.

A pivotal moment in Ms. Fortunato's career occurred in 1992 following a Dateline NBC special on the plight of the Romanian orphans following the overthrow of the brutal Ceaușescu regime. Rather than pursuing adoption like many Americans, she chose to go to Romania to help heal these children in their own context. Ms. Fortunato's background and extensive research in music and its power to heal and bring dignity, hope and self-confidence, enabled her to develop innovative methodologies that transformed both her life and those of the children she served. The success of these initiatives soon attracted interest from parents of children in traditional homes and schools, ultimately leading to the founding of Music Camp International.

In 2021, following the global lockdown from the covid pandemic and the persistent requests from former Music Camp students who were isolated, lonely and depressed, Ms. Fortunato established Musedics - a year-round virtual program, furthering her commitment to using music as a transformative tool for children and youth worldwide. Her work has consistently focused on reaching marginalized and underserved youth, providing them with opportunities for social and emotional wellness, and personal inspiration to "reach for the stars."

Ms. Fortunato began teaching piano in 1969, a role she held for 33 years. During this period, she worked with students from diverse backgrounds, learning styles and disabilities. Her findings inspired her to explore how children's brains develop and process information and then adapt her teaching methods accordingly. These discoveries laid the foundation for Ms. Fortunato's work in developing methodologies that engage a multiple intelligences approach to learning music - rather than submit to the limited mentality of working with children who had been defined as "musically inclined." In addition to her role as president of Songrise International, she has garnered success as an adjunct professor, sharing her expertise with aspiring musicians and educators while continuing to refine and expand her innovative methodologies.

Ms. Fortunato's academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in music and literature from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, earned in 1969. Her education provided both technical proficiency and an intellectual curiosity which expanded her approach to curriculum development and cross-cultural engagement throughout her career.

Adding to her credentials, Ms. Fortunato's professional affiliations include membership in the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities and End Violence Against Children. These memberships reflect her dedication to advocacy and service for vulnerable populations.

Ms. Fortunato's contributions have been recognized internationally. In May 2014, shortly after the Russian occupation of Crimea and during the election of President Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine, she was named Honorary Ambassador of Peace by the Ukrainian government, becoming the only non-Ukrainian ever to receive this distinction. Much earlier, Ms. Fortunato received a Gold Medallion Award in 1985.

Reflecting on her career, Ms. Fortunato attributes her success to courage, adaptability and an unwavering conviction that every child possesses innate musical potential. Her willingness to experiment with new approaches, including virtual instruction, demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Looking ahead, Ms. Fortunato is preparing to expand both her virtual and on-location projects globally, empowering a generation of young people to "make their world a better place." Her vision includes expanding teacher training initiatives and establishing academically accredited internships at leading universities to further empower national teaching teams worldwide.

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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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