L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY M argherita Conti's resumé is robust enough for several people. She's a musician, com- poser, music instructor, producer and publisher. Just over a year ago, she added several other job titles to it: café owner, event manager, chef and community partner. Conti is the owner of Caffé Mu- sica, an Italian-themed café in Shoreline, Wash., just north of Seattle. In addition to its menu of fresh, locally sourced food, Caffé Musica welcomes solo artists and musical groups on a regular basis, keeping the restaurant lively sev- eral nights a month. Conti also runs Rare Earth Music Studio, where she teaches music to adults and young people. Both businesses are located in a leased building which is, not co- incidentally, the home of Il Punto Italian Cultural Center—an arrangement made possible by Conti's creative thinking. This weaving together of all her inter- ests – music, food, Italian language and culture – did not happen by accident. It's a testament to Conti's work ethic, vision and commit- ment to community. Wearing these many hats might be dizzying for the average person, but Conti carries them off with aplomb. We spoke to her soon af- ter she returned from a trip to Italy. Music is a huge part of your life. Did you grow up in a musi- cal family? My dad's sister was a concert pianist, so I think some music was in my genes. When I started col- lege, I majored in creative writing, but changed my major to music af- ter I saw Freddie Hubbard, a bril- liant jazz trumpeter, in concert in San Francisco. It was a transcen- dental experience. That concert changed my life and I became ob- sessed with music after that. I got my BA in music from Sierra Nevada College and lived in the Bay Area for about 10 years. I moved to Seattle in 1994 and worked with the Seattle Folklore Society for a time, producing con- certs. That helped me improve my operational skills, such as market- ing and promotion. How did you make the switch from music production to edu- cation? Technology and downloadable music really changed the industry. I decided to go back to my first love and get a master's degree in music education at Boston Univer- sity. I opened a teaching studio in Fremont, but as the neighborhood grew more popular, I began to look for another venue. At that point, I was teaching at multiple locations. RITA CIPALLA hood response to Caffé Musica? The neighbors love it! Our neighborhood is very diverse eco- nomically. I really want Caffé Mu- sica to be inclusive and a fitting match for the area. I could not have opened the restaurant without the support of Silvia Minelli and Romina Plozza. They have been with me since the beginning and both are extraordinary cooks. Sil- via is from Umbria and Romina is from a small town in the Swiss Alps but Italian is her first lan- guage. Tell us more about Rare Earth Music Studio. I teach guitar, piano, voice, composition and music theory to youngsters and adults. The café offers a great place for my students to perform. I've also started a part- nership with Shoreline Commu- nity College, which enables their music students to perform at Caffé Musica with professional-level musicians. This concert is held on the first Sunday of the month. What other kinds of events do you have? Instrumental Ladies of Jazz, some of the finest female jazz mu- sicians in the Seattle area, perform on the third Thursday of the month. But not all our events are music-oriented. Last year, we of- fered a scopa night where guests could enjoy a glass of wine and learn to play this Italian card game. We have events about once a week, but we could accommo- date as many as three or four a week. What are your plans for the new year? Last year was crazy. It was stressful getting the business up and running, and there were huge learning curves. This year, I want to bring another person on board to continue developing our evening dinner service. That will free me up to focus on the daytime program, events and community outreach. My goal is to continue to offer delicious food and great music. Bringing people together is where my heart lies. Margherita Conti's years as a musician, vocalist and concert producer enable her to showcase some of the area's fine- st performers and musical groups at Caffe Musica. (Susan Doupe') I wanted to find a central place to teach that could also serve as a theater or music venue. How did Il Punto, Seattle's Italian Cultural Center, come into the picture? I am a member of Il Punto and I volunteered at their small lending library. One day, I saw a space for rent in Shoreline, just north of Seattle. It was ideal for a café and could be expanded to include a small performance space. I also thought it could be a great new home for Il Punto, where they could offer cooking classes and lectures. So I leased the space and Il Punto sublets it from me. It's a great way to bring all my interests together under one roof. You grew up in a restaurant family. Did that help you envi- sion Caffé Musica? My grandfather Gaetano was born in Comitini, Sicily. He lived briefly in New York and then moved to Pittsburgh where my fa- ther was born. My family later re- located to Tulsa, Okla., where we ran a restaurant called Villa Conti. It opened in 1947 and lasted for 18 years. Caffé Musica is a dif- ferent concept. We're not a full- service restaurant; our size limits what we can offer. We focus on a selective menu of homemade, au- thentic Italian food. What has been the neighbor- Bring people together lies at the heart of Caffè Musica Caffe Musica is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, combining Italian cuisine and culture with music and events

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