The 2nd Annual Christmas Benefit Concert for Casa Belvedere on November 30 will feature award-winning Italian tenor Micheal Castaldo. Castaldo will sing classic Italian carols from his best-selling album, "Extravergine: Christmas in the Mediterranean," accompanied by the Richmond County Orchestra Strings. Special Guest will be the award winning UK Soprano Rebecca Newman, traveling all the way from York, UK to sing some favorite Christmas carols in English.

The 2pm concert will be held at Notre Dame Academy, 78-134 Howard Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301. Doors open at 1:30pm and there is secure parking on-site. A VIP Reception with light refreshments will follow the concert. Tickets are available for $25 (general seating) and $75 (VIP seating/postconcert reception) through Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/884432or by calling 24/7 at 800-838-3006

"This concert will capture your heart and imagination with the spirit of the holidays and the old world charm of a traditional Italian Christmas," said Gina Biancardi, founder of Casa Belvedere, which has preserved old world traditions for years of families who have celebrated there since the Italian cultural foundation was founded in 2009. "Even those who don't speak Italian will be moved by the setting, the songs, and by Micheal's powerful and melodic voice."

The "Extravergine CD" offers sacred, liturgical carols sung in Italian or Latin. Seasonal favorites include "Oh Santa Notte" (Oh Holy Night), "E Nato Il Bambino Gesu" (What Child Is This?), "Batte Nel Cuore, Suona Natale" (Little Drummer Boy), "Gioia Nel Mondo" (Joy To The World), "Puoi Sentire Quel' Che Sent Io?" (Do You Hear What I Hear?), and "Astro Del Ciel" (Silent Night). Castaldo himself also translated the well-known Polish carol, "Jezus Malusuenki" now entitled, "Piccolo Jesu." Completing the perfect package, Castaldo will sing "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," "Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle," "VA PENSIERO," and "Adeste Fideles."

The following organizations are partnering with Micheal Castaldo and Casa Belvedere to help promote the Italian culture and heritage at this Italian Christmas concert: Investors Bank and Brown Paper Tickets. This program will be supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Ticketing Partners: Coccia Foundation, UNICO, Sempre Avanti, St. Brigids Italian Club, St. Rocco's, OSIA, Italian American Museum, Italian Board of Guardians, Italian American Labor Council, The Gables Historic Inn and Restaurant, St. John's University, Coqui Designs, WHY, and Woodpecker Press.

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. 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. In 2013, Michéal's 1st annual Italian Christmas concert helped raise $3100 for St. Lucy's Church in Newark, NJ. For more info, visit: www.michealcastaldo.com

Affectionately named 'The People's Soprano' by fans, colleagues and the media, singer-songwriter Rebecca Newman stormed into number one in the Official UK Classical Albums Chart with her debut chart release in September 2014, outselling new releases by a number of major international stars in the process. In doing so, she has secured her position as one of the most exciting sopranos the UK has seen for a long time! Demand for her eagerly awaited new album was so great that on day one of release Amazon completely sold out following a live studio interview on BBC One Yorkshire and during the week HMV, stores up and down the country also sold out. For more info www.rebeccanewman.co.uk/

Richmond County Orchestra Strings is Staten Island's premiere professional home-grown symphony orchestra (65-85 members strong). The Richmond County Orchestra has served greater SI for over 7 years with 10-20 performances per season! This includes its annual great performance series, the Maestro Speaks series and Classic's for Kids' series, all open to the public at modest admission and FREE for Children. Under Maestro Alan Aurelia the orchestra has gained national attention and has been able to attract world class musicians, soloists, celebrities, and combine them with local musicians, singers, composers, visual artists, poets, and dancers creating diverse, dynamic multi-media concert events.

The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere is a unique 2.75 acre Arts and Cultural campus on Staten Island, N.Y.'s Grymes Hill. The site boasts spectacular views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the New York City Harbor. The foundation is a registered 501(c3) nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich heritage of Italy by encouraging an appreciation of the Italian language, arts, cuisine, literature, history, fashion, and commerce through various educational programs, exhibits, and events. Proceeds from all facets of this fundraiser will benefit the "Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future" Capital Campaign as well as the Foundation's numerous arts, culture and educational programs. For more Info: www.casa-belvedere.org

The NDA Choir is a middle school choir (approximately 25 girls in grades 6, 7, and 8). They will be singing a few Christmas carols, one of them accompanied by the bell choir. The sacred mission of Notre Dame Academy is the education of girls and young women from Pre-K to Grade 12. They believe that their commitment to a tradition of liberating education creates the space where each student has every opportunity to maximize her potential, investigate and express her gifts, and where each teacher cultivates the best in each girl. They celebrate the uniqueness that each person brings to their campus. For more info: www.notredameacademy.org/

Refreshments during Intermission will be generously donated by The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere of Staten Island, NY. For more information, go to www.michealCASTALDO.com or contact Majestic Castle Music at 877-642-7271 or [email protected]