L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 4 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS M a e s t r o C a r l o Ponti re- ceived the "Officer of t h e O r d e r o f t h e S t a r o f Italy" honor, presented to h i m b y C o n s u l G e n e r a l Raffaella Valentini. At the end of the last concert of the season for the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra l a s t M a y 1 2 a t t h e R a y - m o n d K a b b a z T h e a t e r , c o n d u c t o r P o n t i w a s a w a r d e d t h e h o n o r b y President of the Republic S e r g i o M a t t a r e l l a , a s explained by Consul Gen- eral Valentini, who took the stage to honor the Mae- stro at the end of the con- cert and to presenting him w i t h t h e a w a r d " f o r t h e exceptional commitment shown, since the beginning of his career, to the promo- tion and teaching of music in different social contexts a n d t o t h e n e w g e n e r a - tions." The Order of the Star of Italy is the second high- e s t c i v i l i a n h o n o r o f t h e Italian State, reserved for Italian and foreign citizens abroad who have acquired special merits in fostering relations of friendship and cooperation between Italy and the country in which they work, and in promot- ing ties with Italy. Having studied at some o f t h e m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s music schools in the world, s u c h a s t h e M u s i k Hochschule in Vienna, and having worked alongside great artists and conduc- t o r s s u c h a s M e h l i a n d Zubin Meta, Carlo Ponti is n o w a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e n o w n e d c o n d u c t o r . Among the most important achievements of his career is the founding of the Los A n g e l e s V i r t u o s i Orchestra, an ensemble that emphasizes the educa- tional value of music, of which he is both manager and conductor. Maestro, what does t h i s h o n o r m e a n t o Continued to page 6 SILVIA NITTOLI you? It is a very significant honor for me, as it is given b y t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Republic. I am very privi- leged to receive it and I am very happy that it is about the Los Angeles Virtuosi O r c h e s t r a , t h e c h a m b e r o r c h e s t r a t h a t s u p p o r t s music education. You founded the Los A n g e l e s V i r t u o s i Orchestra. How did the p r o j e c t c o m e a b o u t ? H o w d i d y o u r e a l i z e there was a need for a project like this? I founded the orchestra 10 years ago; we are now in our eighth season. It is an o r c h e s t r a t h a t s u p p o r t s music in two ways: through t h e n e t f u n d s w e g e t t h r o u g h c o n c e r t s , w h i c h are directed to music study projects in specific schools with which we have a part- n e r s h i p . A n d s e c o n d l y , through the involvement of young talents to allow them to play and perform with professional musicians. In fact, the orchestra is com- posed of professional musi- c i a n s w h o h a v e a l o t o f e x p e r i e n c e a n d s u p p o r t young musicians by giving t h e m t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o play with them. W h a t m a k e s y o u most proud about this project? I n m y o p i n i o n , m u s i c always has many positives, even when those we help don't all end up having a career as musicians. The experience still teaches you how to be in a community, how to communicate with people, and how to work on a specific project, so these are aspects that can give young people many posi- tive things for their future. Every concert, and every y o u n g p e r s o n w e h e l p through the funds we get, is a victory to me. When did you realize you loved music? I h a v e a l w a y s l o v e d m u s i c a n d i t h a s a l w a y s been a part of my life. In fact, my parents were clas- Maestro Carlo Ponti receives the "Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy" honor in LA Music Director Carlo Ponti during rehearsals (Photo: Claire Painchaud) Consul General Raffaella Valentini presents the "Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy" to Maestro Ponti (Photo: Claire Painchaud)

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