News

On Sunday Aug. 7, the Patrons held their second [post-covid] Casola award luncheon at the Almansor Court in Alhambra, at which time the Patrons awarded two Casola Prizes. This year’s winners were: Ms. Rachel Bertola Chung of Santa Clara Univ., and Mr. Davide Di Rienzo of UCLA’s Graduate School of Music.

Two dozen members and guests joined in the festivities held in the lovely Garden Room overlooking the lush country club golf course. A delicious 3 course meal was served along with two fine wines. A raffle was held at the end of the event where many books and other treasures were selected by the winners.

Paul Romano, Patron President, brought the members up to date on the exciting new digital format of the PIC website as well as the current planning for the gala Christmas luncheon to be held on Sun. Dec. 4, at Pasadena’s Il Fornaio restaurant.

Accepting Ms. Rachel Bertola Chung’s Prize was her mother Prof. Marie Bertola of Santa Clara Univ. who ‘flew down from northern Ca. for the day' on her daughter’s behalf; as Rachel is now in Milan for her summer/fall academic study program. Prof. Bertola is a Senior Lecturer of Italian at SCU.

The second Casola Prize was awarded to Mr. Davide Di Rienzo, a Graduate Scholar at UCLA’s School of Music, where he continues his Classical piano studies. Born in Milan, Davide has won no less than five Italian national piano concert competitions.