Fans from near and far gathered at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in South Orange, New Jersey, to hear Michéal Castaldo, an award-winning Italian tenor, songwriter, and producer, perform on September 21.

The two-show event, A Musical Celebration of the Italian Spirit—A Feast for the Ears, Eyes, and Soul, was produced by Majestic Castle Music, of New York City, and sponsored by Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey.

In addition to classic Italian tunes, Castaldo performed his chart-topping original song, Pray'r along with a brand new single, L'Amo America (released on September 15). Michéal dedicated his performance of Pray'r to his good friend Philo Bene, who lost her battle to breast cancer in early May 2014, and he presented her mother, Grace Salimbene Nardiello, with a bouquet of flowers after his performance.

Between shows Castaldo made an appearance in the grand lobby to greet and be photographed with his enthusiastic fans, some of whom traveled long distances to attend. There were fans from California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Canada at the shows. Afterward, there was a special VIP Reception backstage for those attending both shows. The VIP Reception was co-sponsored by Kings Food Markets, headquartered in Parsippany, NJ; Palazzone 1960, located in Wayne, NJ.

As a special surprise for Castaldo, TEAM Castaldo (a Facebook group of his dedicated fans) had Palazzone 1960 create a special birthday cake to recognize the September birthdays of Castaldo and his wife, Bozena, during the reception. The joy on Castaldo's face, the interactions and excitement of the enthusiastic fans, many of whom had never met in person, and the love of the music that connected them all were evidence that this was a spectacular event.

Additional sponsors for the concerts included The Coccia Foundation, Saddle Brook, NJ; Coqui Designs Inc., Cedar Grove, NJ; The Gables Historic Inn & Restaurant, Beach Haven, NJ; Sempre Avanti, Inc., Cedar Grove, NJ; NJAWBO MetroEast, Essex County, NJ; We The Italians, Rome, Italy; and Woodpecker Press, Bayville, NJ.

On November 30, Michéal Castaldo will be performing a Christmas Benefit Concert at Notre Dame Academy, 78-78 Howard Ave., Staten Island, NY. The concert is a fundraiser for Casa Belvedere. He will sing classic Italian carols from his best-selling album, "Extravergine: Christmas in the Mediterranean." For details, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/884432. For more information about Michéal Castaldo, visit www.michealCASTALDO.com.