August 12, 2022: Main Stage
Alessandro Montelli
Alessandro Montelli is an Italian Canadian Alternative-Pop Artist. He was born and raised in the south of Italy, near Bari (Puglia) and he began his career performing at open mics and local festivals at a very young age. He started writing his first songs at 15 years old, with a guitar that his grandma had gifted him. He also studied classic piano and vocals with some of the big names in the Italian music scene. Soon after releasing his first single “Strane Parti di Me” and performing it all over the country, his passion for the Canadian music scene and his family’s roots made him move to Toronto in 2016 where he dot to experience busking and made a name for himself in both the music industry and the Italian community. After working with local producers Atom & Bluxz in 2021 he dropped his new singles “Life”, “Vaffanculo” and “Anything You Need” and he’s now working towards his first EP.
Chef Gianni Ceschia
Gianni Ceschia was born and raised in Friuli, Italy and has spent his life sharing authentic Italian recipes: he brought them while he travelled the world as a young man and has not stopped since. He is proud to share that since the 1980s, he has been a chef in the Toronto area. He has been able to share his authentic recipes with the world through his televised cooking show, L'arte Di Cucinare.
Sarah & Matt
Sarah Jordan and Matt Von are a brother/sister duo that share a passion for music that seems to be part of their natural chemistry. Being a seasoned pop soulful performer, Sarah brings pure emotion, while Matthew’s vocals are storytelling, understated and pure. Sarah and Matt are independent singer songwriters, who made a decision in 2019 to collaborate as a duo. Their first single “Great Escape” was released in March 2019 and is available on all streaming platforms. Sarah and Matt are excited to bring their love of storytelling to their music as a duo. Their new sound is explosive, and they are ready to give their global audience an unforgettable experience with the release of their second single L.O.V.E. L.O.V.E was released in September 2019 and its sexy Latin sound and catchy hook make this tune one to be sure to keep you moving on the dance floor. The L.O.V.E project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.
Their newest release is out now, titled “Watch Me”. Sarah Jordan and Matt Von introduce a tropical, hypnotizing sensual sound in this classical guitar driven song, where a conversation between two people is brought to life through dance. “Watch Me” is the song that will be playing while you try to impress that other person. No words are needed. Express what you feel through dance and rhythm. Expose your fantasies using a sexy, bold confidence while you dance, in an effort to win that person over with the language of music. This song is the soundtrack that will accompany the explosive start to what will hopefully be a new budding romance. Earlier this year, Sarah and Matt released a remix version of their first ever single “Great Escape”. This remix was produced by “WanderAllWinter” and is available on all streaming platforms.
Neena Rose
Canadian Singer /Songwriter, Neena Rose has emerged onto the music scene with a magnetism not encountered every day. From her breakout single “Games” in 2018 and all its successors, the talented Rose is shaking things up and taking the industry by storm.
The Hamilton, Ontario- based artist has received extensive support from media, playlists, music consumers, and has garnered great success. With over 950,000+ TikTok followers, over 7,000,000+ streams on all DSP’s, on more than 163,000+ playlists, over 9300+ Shazam’s and has performed to over 50,000 people at various events. Rose has strong presence across all platforms including Tik Tok, YouTube and Soundcloud.
In March of 2019 she was the youngest Canadian female panelist invited to speak at the California Copyright Conference and later that year, in November of 2019, she was 1 of only 6 Canadians nominated for the Hollywood Music and Media Awards in Los Angeles, California.
DIRECT FROM ITALY
Pino Gioia
Pino Gioia is a pop-rock crossover recording artist, singer, songwriter, pianist, entertainer and music producer with a passionate and enchanting voice. He has received rave reviews on American, Canadian, South American and Italian televisions, magazines and radio stations as well for his performances at various festivals and venues throughout the USA, Canada and Europe.
Born and raised in Italy, the artist attended the conservatory of Music “Gesualdo da Venosa” - Potenza graduating in piano. Since 1991, he has released 13 albums. The last song “HO SCRITTO UNA CANZONE” was published on April 25, 2022.
Pino’s concerts are a journey from the 60s to today with unique arrangements of legendary Italian and international songs alternated with successes written by him as “Aspettando la sera”, “Il chiodo fisso”, “Lo que yo quiero” and many others. All this combined with its endearing voice make the show engaging and fun.
Website: https://www.pinogioia.it
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MrEnjoy2001
Armando
Having gained support by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Timmy Trumpet, Sam Feldt, and CARTA (Asia’s #1 DJ), this Canadian born International Recording Artist, Singer-Songwriter from Toronto, has propelled himself on the International music scene.
Armando has opened up for act's like OFFSET (MIGOS), LOUD LUXURY & DJ PAULY D (Jersey Shore), while also performing at Nikki Beach in Monaco during the F1, as well as New York Fashion week. His works have been featured on Sony Music, Armada Music, and Kontor Records, which reflect his growing popularity. In 2018 Armando co-wrote and was featured on DJ Antoine's "EL PARADISO", and was flown out to the Swiss Alps (St. Moritz) to shoot the music video (which was sponsored by “HUBLOT”) and has gained over 5,300,000 YouTube views and over 8,900,000 spotify streams, which became an instant hit in Italy.
In that same year Armando also co-wrote the Official FIFA World Cup song for the Swiss National Soccer team "OLE OLE" by DJ Antoine Ft. Karl Wolf & Fito Blanko, and was accepted as one of the top 20 Official World Cup anthems at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He then co-wrote and was the featured singer on DJ Antoine's "Symphony" which went #3 on MTV ITALIA & was the #32 most played song on Z1035 top songs of 2019. His latest singles have gained both local and international recognition, that have set the stage for this Canadian rising star to be a force in the DANCE/POP/EDM scene, not only in Canada but globally.
Joee
The iconic JOEE is hitting our main stage on Friday night. You all know and love him for his unforgettable hits "Angel", "Arriba" and more.
Tony Monaco
TONY MONACO aka The Clubber, The Legend, The Franchise, The Man with The Tan and The Heavyweight Champion of The M.I.C. has electrified radio audiences for over 28 years and 25 years with Evanov Communications.
TONY is a former recipient of the prestigious Evanov Radio Group President’s Award and a 7-time winner of Best Radio Personality from www.TorontoNightClub.com
TONY MONACO is passionate about music man and has always helped promote local and international artists and talents and compiled nearly 50 “Fist Pumping” compilations that many of you probably still have in your CD collections.
DJ Danny D
As a DJ in the clubs and on-air with Z103.5 FM, weekdays 12p-1p with the highly rated ‘Wayback Lunch’, Monday-Thursday 5p-6p with ‘The Drive @ 5 Streetmix’ and Fridays 4p-6p with ‘The Extended Streetmix’, Danny D has come to be known as “The People’s DJ.”
His genuine love of music lends to his success as a DJ. In 2005, he took that sound into music production, and has proven to be a successful independent artist. Danny was nominated in the ‘Best Dance Recording’ category at the 2007 Juno Awards, for his debut single ‘Airbreak’. He has sold over a half-a-million mixed CD compilations (featuring his own remixes and original productions).
Most recently, he had the honour of mixing the legendary ‘Much Dance’ 2015, 2017 and 2019 compilations, released nationally across Canada. When not working, he loves spending time with his son Joseph and daughter Valentina, and of course watching his favourite team…JUVENTUS!!!
August 13, 2022: Main Stage
Josephine Mancini
Josephine is a stratospheric soprano coloratura, pianist, and music theory teacher, who completed her studies through the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano, Operatic Voice and Music Theory at the age 15.
She received several awards from Italfest as a Recipient of Youth Heritage Award 2019, French Academic Organization APRORESCO in 2018, from the Philippines and Canadian government as a result of her benevolence to society.
Voci Ciociare (Windsor Choir)
Chef Gianluca Francioli
He discovered his passion for cooking watching his grandma doing “panzerotti, orecchiette and all the amazing traditional
food of that perfumed and colorful land. At school age he moved to Genova to start the culinary academy Nino Bergese to get the Diploma and start his “Learning Journey”.
Through the years he had the pleasure to work with the Michelin starred chef Luca Collami( Baldin restaurant Genova) Ivano Ricchebono (The cook restaurant Genova) and Silvano Gambetta (Marina Place restaurant Genova). Nowadays, he works as a private chef, consultant and for customized functions.
Marisa Buffone’s Tarantella Cabaret
Alpini Choir
Chef Luciano Schipano
Luciano Schipano is a young chef, born in Canada and raised in Italy; Red Seal certified with a serious passion for the culinary
arts. Over the years he has focused his passion on going back to his origins to discover old recipes, adopt old practices and
rekindle the authentic craft of creating wholesome flavors.
Chef Luciano has been in many TV cooking shows as “l’Arte di Cucinare” on Omni1 with celebrity chef Gianni Ceschia and on CityTV at Festival Italiano of Johnny Lombardi with Chin Radio International. Luciano’s passion for the culinary arts extends from the kitchen to the classroom in Italy, where he taught for many years. His first and most important lesson for new students is always the same, the importance of cooking with “more”!
After all, the first ingredient in everything we do well is love.
Giuseppe the MC
GIUSEPPE THE MC is an Italo-Canadese Comedian and online sensation. Since 2015 Giuseppe has headlined all over Canada, Australia, Europe and the United States. Online he is well known for his "Calabrese Phrases of the day", Italian Dialect Game show, and of course his portrayals of his hardcore Italian mother and father. Through his videos, performances on stage and many events that he emcees, Giuseppe will always celebrate his Italian Heritage through comedy.
Chef Massimo Capra
Born in Italy, Chef Massimo Capra culinary training began in Salsomaggiore, Parma. He then started his culinary journey at the famous Trattoria dall' Amelia in Mestre near Venice. He spent several years at Hotel Royal in Courmayeur, Val d'Aosta, Hotel Savoy and Drei Tannen restaurant in San Martino di Castrozza, and under contract with Gallia Hotels in Milan and Various resort properties.
Born in Italy, Chef Massimo Capra culinary training began in Salsomaggiore, Parma. He then started his culinary journey at the famous Trattoria dall' Amelia in Mestre near Venice. He spent several years at Hotel Royal in Courmayeur, Val d'Aosta, Hotel Savoy and Drei Tannen restaurant in San Martino di Castrozza, and under contract with Gallia Hotels in Milan and Various resort properties.
Chef Massimo Capra opened a restaurant in his hometown of Mississauga; Capra's Kitchen will be a casual Italian eatery with heavy emphasis on Pasta, Pizza and Antipasto. Capra’s Kitchen will open in the summer of 2016.
Author of "One Pot Italian" and "Three Chefs the kitchen men" which in 2011 received the gold award from Canadian Culinary Book Award, Chef Capra is the food editor for "Canadian Home Trends" magazine.
Baci Duo
Always a crowd favourite, Baci is a fun and dynamic duo that keeps traditional Italian music alive. Accordionist Zingaro and vocalist Claudio, are established musicians that have been performing for many years in the Italian community including some elite events.
Grande Amore
Charles Di Raimando is an accomplished and versatile singer and musician, as well as television actor. His concert repertoire includes solo tenor performances of Verdi’s “Requiem”, Bach’s “Mass in B minor”, Saint Saen’s “Christmas Oratorio”, Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s “Messiah”.
International opera singer Sara Papini has graced stages around Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Israel and Russia. Her operatic roles include both Mimi and Musetta La Boheme, Adina L'Elisir d'Amore, Norina Don Pasquale, Gilda Rigoletto, Contessa Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna Don Giovanni, Nedda Pagliacci and Hannah Glawari Merry Widow.
Romulo Delgado is an operatic tenor, composer, world music multi-instrumentalist, vocal coach and adjudicator. He was a region finalist at the Hans Gabor Belvedere International Opera competition in Vienna, Austria and trained in Toronto at the Royal Conservatory Music. His operatic roles include Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Don Jose in Bizet’s Carmen, and Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor.
Viaggio
Viaggio, Ontario’s premier Italian Band! A seven piece musical group playing yesterday's Italian Pop classics to today's top hits. Featuring female and male vocalists accompanied by an ensemble of seasoned musicians. Like the name entails, Viaggio will take you on a musical journey performing songs from such Italian artists as Al Bano & Romina Power, Toto Cutugno, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti, Umberto Tozzi and others, and of course the folklore music of the Italian Culture and its familiar sound. Guaranteed to move you with the sound of music that will get you to reminisce back to a time of great Italian artists and the classics they gave us.
Let Viaggio take you on your next journey through “la musica d’Italia”!
Roberta Battaglia
Roberta Battaglia is a dynamic young singer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Born in 2009 to a family of music, Roberta Battaglia began singing at the tender age of three alongside her father. Together they have graced many stages from local community events to galas and charity functions, among performing for city officials, special guests, and dignitaries. On Season 15 of America’s Got Talent Sofia Vergara hit her first ever Golden Buzzer for AGT for Roberta. Additionally, Roberta Battaglia continues to lend her voice to corporate commercial productions, significant special events and competitions such as Hidden Talent Toronto.
HEADLINER DIRECT FROM ITALY
Manuela Villa
Manuela is known to Italians and global fans alike for her powerhouse vocals, performances at San Remo, singing for Pope John Paul II, and international appearances including Europe and North America. Manuela’s also an accomplished author, TV and theatrical actor and has released a brand-new album Aleunam Tour in 2022.