Award-winning Italian tenor, songwriter, and producer, Michéal Castaldo will perform A Musical Celebration of the Italian Spirit—A Feast for the Ears, Eyes, and Soul at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Sunday, September 21, 2014.

Michéal Castaldo is the living embodiment of authentic Italian culture. A native of Calabria in the "tip of the toe" of Italy, he is an accomplished pop-classical crossover singer of his native songs.

Over the past ten years Michéal Castaldo has entertained more than 500,000 people across the USA, Canada, and Europe with creative and rousing renditions of classic Italian songs. With a voice that soothes the soul, Castaldo's performances are enchanting, heartfelt, and authentic. He treats the audience to stories in between songs that share moments from his Italian upbringing, tidbits about his musical journey, and insight that went into his song choices.

Continuing its long tradition of support for the performing arts in New Jersey, Investors Bank is thrilled to sponsor Michéal Castaldo's première performance at SOPAC. It will consist of two distinct shows, a matinee at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 6:30 p.m. In addition to classic Italian tunes like O Sole Mio, Con Te Partiro (a song made famous by Andrea Bocelli), and the chart-topping original song, Pray'r, the song list will include American hit songs sung in Italian, such as Nights in White Satin and Hotel California sung in the Calabrian language. Castaldo's shows are fully staged cultural multimedia music and dance events that will feature spectacular visual imagery.

Choreography by award-winning Sicilian-born Saveria Tumino accentuates the vitality and physical prowess of the Hyblart Dance Company, direct from Sicily, who will perform vibrant dance routines to compliment the music for every song performed by Castaldo. The John J. Cali School of Music Strings will accompany Castaldo. Their participation in this concert is made possible, in part, by a donation from The Coccia Foundation. Special guest performers will round out the entertainment experience.

Beautiful scenes, vistas, and landscapes of Italy alongside images of classic Italian films will be projected throughout the entire theater space. Driven by the dancers' passion, skill, and collective power, the concert was created over a three-year developmental process. The lush musical production and score were co-authored and co-produced by Michéal Castaldo. It is infused with the infectious energy and heart that he observed in his initial encounters with the Hyblart dancers.

Dignitaries, VIPs, and personalities in the Italian-American community are expected to attend this exciting cultural event because it is one of the Italian Heritage and Culture Month celebrations that will be taking place in and around New York City during Fall 2014.

A Musical Celebration of the Italian Spirit—A Feast for the Ears, Eyes, and Soul at SOPAC (www.sopacnow.org) is sponsored by Investors Bank (www.myinvestorsbank.com), headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, and produced by Majestic Castle Music (www.michealCASTALDO.com), of New York City. A portion of the net proceeds will benefit La Dolce Vita Foundation (www.ladolcevitafoundation.org).

Additional sponsors include The Coccia Foundation (www.cocciafoundation.org), Saddle Brook, NJ; The Gables Historic Inn & Restaurant (www.gableslbi.com), Beach Haven, NJ; Sempre Avanti, Inc. (www.sempreavanti.org), Cedar Grove, NJ; NJAWBO MetroEast (www.njawbo-metroeast.org), Essex County, NJ; and Woodpecker Press (www.woodpeckerpress.com), Bayville, NJ.

Tickets go on sale Monday, June 23. For tickets ($37–$57 plus processing fees), call 973-313-ARTS (2787) or visit the SOPAC Box Office located at One SOPAC Way, South Orange NJ, 07079. The SOPAC Box Office is open Monday–Saturday, 12–6 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://www.sopacnow.org/450/MichaelCastaldo. For questions or comments, contact 877-642-7271.

For patrons purchasing tickets to both shows, (2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.), there will be a special VIP Meet and Greet Reception and Olive Oil Tasting backstage with all the artists/dancers and musicians between shows. The VIP reception is being sponsored by NewYorkCityOliveOilCoop.com.

The Hyblart Dance Company is the first professional dance company located in the town of Ragusa in the region of Sicily, Italy. The Dance Company was founded in 2008 by Mrs. Saveria Tumino (director, choreographer, and dancer) and her partner Mr. Andrea Panuzzo, inspired by their desire to bring the necessary emphasis on dance to a region that unfortunately lacks the culture for the art of dance. The company's purpose is to promote contemporary dance by linking it to other forms of expression, such as artistic acting, visual arts, and opera, in order to find acclaim from a wider spread audience. The company's productions create strong emotions within the audience inspired by the dynamics of the movements as well as the use of music composed by talented Hyblean artists, who often reference great classical and contemporary composers.

The John J. Cali School of Music Strings: Under the direction of cellist Nicholas Tzavaras (Shanghai String Quartet), senior music students have performed works by Britten, Haydn, Grieg, and Barber. In addition to performing on campus, they have performed at Barge Music and Carnegie Hall's Weill Auditorium. The exceptional music students joined Michéal Castaldo at his Italian Christmas concert in December 2013 at St. Lucy's Church in Newark, NJ.

SOPAC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit performing arts organization that delivers artistic, educational, and innovative experiences within an intimate, inviting environment, and promotes regional involvement in the arts, serving as a catalyst for economic development and continued revitalization of South Orange's downtown business district.

Presenting Sponsor: Investors Bank proudly and actively supports social, community, and cultural organizations across New Jersey and New York. Headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With a network of more than 125 retail branches, Investors' consumer banking services include complete deposit products, online banking, home equity loans and lines of credit, and a full array of mortgage loans. Serving the business community, Investors provides deposit accounts, cash management services, business loans and lines of credit, and commercial real estate financing solutions.

Benefitting: La Dolce Vita Foundation's mission is to foster that feeling of "La Dolce Vita" (which means "the Sweet Life") by granting severely ill children, teens, or adults with the ultimate "Joy Ride" in a classic, exotic, two-seat convertible roadster designed for Driving the Blues Away™. The privately owned roadster is a one-of-a-kind 1993 MX-5 Mazda Miata–La Dolce Vita Edition for our select grant recipients to enjoy and talk about. A sophisticated video system tapes the entire trip inside and outside the car. A souvenir DVD of the Joy Ride and photos taken during the ride are given to the patient to commemorate the experience. And, through the Foundation's sponsorship relationships with great restaurants, a complimentary lunch or brunch with the grant recipient follows the ride.