January 2014 Meeting Program:
Meet Catherine Sprague: Pianist, Author
Catherine Sprague is a pianist who gives lectures and programs on classical music throughout New Jersey. Catherine studied music at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then Mount Holyoke College and Indiana University. Her area of specialty is Mozart, including
the composer’s musical style and biography.
During the past seven years, Catherine has been presenting programs about Mozart and offering insight into his music and actual details of his life. Research completed recently will appear in a book to be published in 2014 by Pendragon Press, a scholarly music publishing firm. Catherine will present “Mozart at the Movies”, one of four programs about the composer, covering music heard in popular films including The Shawshank Redemption, Master and Commander, Amadeus, Out of Africa, and The King’s Speech. Clips of the movies that use some of Mozart’s most popular music will be shown. A discussion of the biographical and historical background behind Mozart’s music will be included.
Since Mozart traveled to Italy three times, Catherine will present slides showing the important sites in Italy where Mozart performed (Mantua, Verona, Rome, Florence, and Naples), some of his Italian patrons, and she will offer information about the impact Italy had on Mozart’s work in general. When Mozart was fourteen, he was admitted to two prestigious Italian musical academies (one in Bologna and one in Rome), and he also received an award from the Pope. Mozart
learned the Italian art of singing from some of the finest singers of his time.
If time permits, letters that were written by Mozart (using Italianism) to his sister during 1770 will be shown that offer a
special look at the composer’s personality.
Catherine is married, has two children and lives in Hunterdon County.
During the past seven years, Catherine has been presenting programs about Mozart and offering insight into his music and actual details of his life. Research completed recently will appear in a book to be published in 2014 by Pendragon Press, a scholarly music publishing firm. Catherine will present “Mozart at the Movies”, one of four programs about the composer, covering music heard in popular films including The Shawshank Redemption, Master and Commander, Amadeus, Out of Africa, and The King’s Speech. Clips of the movies that use some of Mozart’s most popular music will be shown. A discussion of the biographical and historical background behind Mozart’s music will be included.
Since Mozart traveled to Italy three times, Catherine will present slides showing the important sites in Italy where Mozart performed (Mantua, Verona, Rome, Florence, and Naples), some of his Italian patrons, and she will offer information about the impact Italy had on Mozart’s work in general. When Mozart was fourteen, he was admitted to two prestigious Italian musical academies (one in Bologna and one in Rome), and he also received an award from the Pope. Mozart
learned the Italian art of singing from some of the finest singers of his time.
If time permits, letters that were written by Mozart (using Italianism) to his sister during 1770 will be shown that offer a
special look at the composer’s personality.
Catherine is married, has two children and lives in Hunterdon County.
November 2013 Meeting Program:
Meet Andre DiMino: A National Leader for the Italian American Community
Andre’ DiMino has dedicated himself to defending, promoting
and preserving Italian and Italian American heritage and culture throughout America. He has been widely recognized as the national
leader of the Italian American community in his efforts against negative
portrayals and stereotyping of Italian Americans in the media, most notably
through opposition to reality shows such as MTV’s “Jersey Shore”
since before its debut. He has appeared
on dozens of major TV and radio programs and is editorials and interviews have
been in a wide number of newspapers, national magazines, publications, and web
sites. He is an articulate and outspoken advocate for Italian Americans and has
championed many positive initiatives celebrating Italian heritage and culture. It has been noted by many organizations and
prominent individuals that he has amassed a significant record in his contributions
to the positive Italian American identity in the United
States and for his efforts at unifying Italian Americans
across America.
Mr. DiMino is Executive Administrator and Past National President of UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in America, with over 140 chapters in 20 States. Mr. DiMino served as the 87th National President in the 2009-2010 term, has been a member since 1990 and a charter member and founding officer of the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey Chapter. Mr. DiMino is on the Executive Board and is past president of the Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition, Inc., a national Italian American advocacy group, founded by Dr. Manny Alfano in 1993, comprised of thousands of activists and organizations across the country.
A first-generation Italian American whose late parents were from Sicily, Mr. DiMino is married to Jenny, who is also an active UNICO member and first-generation Italian American. Her parents are from Basilicata and currently reside in Long Island, NY. Andre’ and Jenny DiMino reside in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Mr. DiMino is a technology business executive with an extensive engineering and science background in the esign, development, commercialization, and manufacturing of medical and precision electronics and devices; environmentally safe chemical formulations; and personal care and cosmetic products. He has several issued and pending patents as well as technical publications.
Mr. DiMino has been actively involved in public and community service. He was elected to public office for four terms as Councilman and 8 years as Council President for the Borough of Woodcliff Lake as well as 10 years as Finance Chairman and 3 years as Fire Commissioner. He served as Chair of the Cost Containment Committee for 2 years and as Community Development Representative for 7 years for Bergen County. He was Trustee of the Pascack historical Society from 1994 to 1999; Vice-Chair of the NW Bergen Chapter of the American Heart Association from 1998 to 1999, among numerous other activities. Since 2000, he has served on the Advisory Board to Computer Science and Engineering at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Mr. DiMino is Executive Administrator and Past National President of UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in America, with over 140 chapters in 20 States. Mr. DiMino served as the 87th National President in the 2009-2010 term, has been a member since 1990 and a charter member and founding officer of the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey Chapter. Mr. DiMino is on the Executive Board and is past president of the Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition, Inc., a national Italian American advocacy group, founded by Dr. Manny Alfano in 1993, comprised of thousands of activists and organizations across the country.
A first-generation Italian American whose late parents were from Sicily, Mr. DiMino is married to Jenny, who is also an active UNICO member and first-generation Italian American. Her parents are from Basilicata and currently reside in Long Island, NY. Andre’ and Jenny DiMino reside in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Mr. DiMino is a technology business executive with an extensive engineering and science background in the esign, development, commercialization, and manufacturing of medical and precision electronics and devices; environmentally safe chemical formulations; and personal care and cosmetic products. He has several issued and pending patents as well as technical publications.
Mr. DiMino has been actively involved in public and community service. He was elected to public office for four terms as Councilman and 8 years as Council President for the Borough of Woodcliff Lake as well as 10 years as Finance Chairman and 3 years as Fire Commissioner. He served as Chair of the Cost Containment Committee for 2 years and as Community Development Representative for 7 years for Bergen County. He was Trustee of the Pascack historical Society from 1994 to 1999; Vice-Chair of the NW Bergen Chapter of the American Heart Association from 1998 to 1999, among numerous other activities. Since 2000, he has served on the Advisory Board to Computer Science and Engineering at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
