An Italian Canadian organization that works: Sons and Daughters of Italy
HAMILTON – The Corriere Canadese was delighted to accept an invitation by the Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy, Hamilton Branch, last October 5, and to bear witness to its inaugural concert at the “new” Hamilton Italian Centre. Italian Ambassador, His Excellency Alessandro Cattaneo was there to share in the celebrations surrounding the launch of the Centre’s cultural programming and to express his support as the representative of Italy for their unending efforts to promote the best that our predecessors have offered to civility and civilization.
The event was sold out at 540 attendees, despite the competition from Soccer Sunday, NFL games across the river, ideal weather for golf tournaments, and Formula I attractions on TV. The event speaks to the organizational ability of the Sons and Daughters of Italy.
It also goes to their desire to place culture (music, art, prose and poetry) front and centre. The programme featured accomplished Tenors, Romulo Delgado, Giacomo Folinazzo, Joel Ricci: a budding starlet Taylor Frisina, Soprano Sofia Buzzelli; the Sons and Daughters of Italy Choir; Geoff Grayson, Pianist, Lorien Grayson, conductor; the Southern Ontario Lyric Opera (SOLO) choir and orchestra, and Sabatino Vacca, Conductor. The standing ovations were well deserved.
From a personal perspective, co-chairs Filomena Frisina and Frank Raso for the BIS! Concert Committee deserve special commendation for a special event indeed. As do others whom I recognized as working in the background (Larry Di Ianni, Joe Baiardo, Tony Cina and Mary Yachetti).
Together, with others, they managed to purchase a de-commissioned Christian High School and are in the process of converting it into a fully functional Community centre to showcase Italian art, customs, traditions, creativity as well as to celebrate the Italian experience in Canada, more especially in the greater Hamilton – Niagara area. God bless them! Corriere will be glad to publicize those grand achievements.
Here below is a photogallery from the event (photos: Corriere Canadese)
