Dear friends and readers,
I’m back writing my BLOG!!
Well I was away for a while!
I’ve been singing, writing songs and enjoying life!!
In the mean time winter is
over and Spring is blossoming in NYC.
I love this season: the mild
weather, the colorful flowers blossoming all around and people getting ready
for the summer!! Yes SUMMER my favorite season of all!! I can’t wait!!!
Yes, I have my bikini ready
and the flip-flops too. And to be ready for that, as a lot of us, me too I’m
heading to the gym every day to loose some extra winter pounds and I’ve started
a healthy diet with a lot of salad and fresh fruits!!
I’ve been busy writing new
songs, with songwriters from Nashville, Canada and London and I can’t wait to
share them with all of you in my new CD. I’m also just finalizing the details
for the filming of a Television Specials for PBS. This will be a big step
forward for my music. It will allow me to reach so many new people that
hopefully will love my romantic music. Of course it will also make possible for
me to do a tour around the USA. I can’t wait to share all of this in detail
with you!!
And for all my fans in Europe
and the rest of the world…..I will be coming there too!! Stay tuned!!
The Certificate of Recognition
Last weekend, on Sunday April
22nd, I was honored to
receive an award from the Comitato Italiano of St. Brigid in Westbury Long
Island, NY.
|
The Italian Committee of
St. Bridget is formed by a group people, who, in communion with the
parish and in compliance with the program of the parish, works for the benefit
of the whole community' of Italians in Westbury.
Purpose 'of the Committee is
to promote and coordinate social activity, cultural and religious identity of
the ‘Italian community that reside in Westbury.
The Award |
Every year they have their
Annual Gala Italiano where they honored a few Italians who distinguished them
self in their own field and they give scholarship to young children of their
community.
This year I was honor to be
among their honorees together with Rosa Cangialosi and Dr. Gerardo D’Aversa.
It was a very uplifting and
happy day. Outside the rain was coming down furiously. Inside we were
celebrating happily with great food and wonderful company!!
All standing for the Anthems |
The Children singing the Anthems!! |
The ceremony started with the
Italian and the American National Anthems sang by the children of the Italian
Cultural Class. It was so sweet and funny too. Kids as you can imagine can’t
stay still for long so even while singing there was a lot of swinging and
moving around!! And it was priceless to see their happy and proud faces when
the applause came!! It reminded me of when as a child I loved to sing my songs
and get the standing ovation of my family!! Priceless memories of the start of
my singing career!!
After the Anthems there was
the blessing of the wonderful father Gregory Rannazzisi and then the President
of the Comity, Alfonso Sposito, started the award Ceremony!!
AnnaMaria presenting me the Award |
I was the first to be called
on stage. To present my Award were two very special friends, Anna Maria Izzo
Barbieri and Giovanna Auriemma the presenter of the popular Italian Radio Program "Souvenir D'Italia on WRHU!!
It is always very touching to
receive Awards for doing what you love so much!! The award was given to me in
recognition of my distinguished service in promulgating the beauty and value of
the Italian Culture and Heritage!
With Giovanna Auriemma, Alfonso Sposito & Anna Maria Izzo Barbieri |
I briefly thanked everybody
for the honor to receive this award and I said that I will cherish it for years
to come as I will use them to remind me to work harder!!
And now also this award is my
office together with the others I got during the years. I really look at them a
lot and in the tough days and I must say they give me inspiration and strength
to move forward and keep working on my dream!!
Dr.Gerardo D'Aversa with his daughter and Alfonso Sposito |
Father Greg Ranazzisi, Rosa Cangelosi, Monsignor Ralph Sommer & Alfonso Sposito |
After me they awarded also a
wonderful eye Doctor , Dr. Gerardo D’Aversa who is doing an incredible work
helping people restore their vision in Ghana and a wonderful woman well known
in the community of the St. Brigid Parish, Rosa Cangialosi!!
The three wonderful recipients of the Scholarship |
It was then time to get the
scholarship to three wonderful young ladies.
While in Europe it is
possible to have a good education for people of all social classes, here in the
USA it is different!
The most prestigious schools,
collages and university are private and very expensive. So for children of the
middle class it is not so easy to attend them. That’s why in America there are
many great associations helping those bright kids to get a great education,
giving them scholarships!!
I’ve been honored to be part
so many great events that are collecting money for scholarships. The annual
Gala in Washington of the OSIA and the NIAF, and the Columbus Citizen
Foundation in NYC, all giving every year millions of dollars in scholarships to
young kids. It is always so special to meet young students who are so happy to
receive the scholarship, as they know this will make possible for them to study
in some great colleges or Universities and create a better future for
themselves!
And also Sunday it was very
special to see those happy proud faces. They say destiny is shaped by events,
and for sure are events like Sunday that will create great future for those
very bright young ladies!!
After the Scholarship …dinner
was served!!
With Sal and Rae Lanzilotta |
There were a lot of children
walking around and dancing to the music, family and friends gathering at their
table and having a great time!! I was happy to share this wonderful day with
some dear friends who came to celebrate me, like Angelina Izzo, my USA mom as I
call her, Annamaria, and little Adriana, but also the past President of the
OSIA Grand Lodge of NY, Sal Lanzilotta and his wonderful wife Rae who I’m
blessed and honor to call dear friends.
With JJ |
And of course my dear JJ!!
It was such a wonderful day!
A day to remember and to cherish for year to come!!
Of course I was asked to sing
a song and I did it gladly even though I was already dealing with a sore
throat!!
Result of it was a bad
laryngitis that kept me silent for a few days last week.
But I’m back to normal now
and all that matter is that I was honored to be able to bring my music to some
new people and cherish my God’s gift once again with the world!!
So stay tuned for my new week
BLOG as I will share with you some more news and adventures of my life and my
dream: bringing romantic music around the world!!
Love Always,
Giada