Gala Event and
Awards Ceremony
The Puerto Rican Cultural Heritage House (La Casa) Annual Gala Event and Awards Ceremony takes place on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Scaletta Ristorante (50 West 77 Street, in Manhattan). La Casa celebrates 29 years of community service, commemorates the music and life achievements of Puerto Rican composer RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ, and honors community leaders who have made significant contributions to the Puerto Rican/Latino community of East Harlem and beyond.
During this cultural and educational multimedia celebration, La Casa honors internationally known star DANNY RIVERA, in recognition of his great contribution to culture and the arts, and presents conductor, composer and trombonist WILLIAM CEPEDA, soprano THELMA ITHIER STERLING, pianist DESMAR GUEVARA, Resident Composer/Musical Director for Pregones Theater, and LA RONDALLA DE CUATRO DE LA CASA with musical director PUCHO ALAMO and guitarist LUIS RODRÍGUEZ -- all joining Danny Rivera to showcase the music of Rafael
Hernández and culture in its best musical expression.
In recognition of their great vision, leadership and contribution to the Puerto Rican/Latino community of New York City, La Casa honors and presents awards to ASSEMBLYMAN ADAM CLAYTON POWELL, IV, DR. VÍCTOR ALICEA, Founder/President of Boricua College, YOLANDA SÁNCHEZ, Chair Board of Directors/Casabe Community Development Corporation and Founder/President of the National Latinas Caucus, FERNANDO SALICRUP, Executive Director for Taller Boricua/Founder of the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center, LILLIAN JIMENÉZ, Filmmaker/Executive Director for the Latino Educational Media Center, and DR. ANDRÉS IRIZARRY FALTO, President for Sociedad Cultural Mayaguezana.
The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College joins in the celebration with the participation of DR. ALBERTO HERNÁNDEZ, Associate Director/Chief Librarian and Archivist for Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños. Dr. Hernández will make a presentation on the life and music of Rafael Hernández. ROSALBA ROLÓN, Artistic Director for Pregones Theater will also contribute to this special presentation.
La Casa is a not-for-profit, community-based, cultural institution, founded in 1980 to advance, disseminate and preserve the cultural heritage of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. La Casa’s main component is its Puerto Rican Heritage Library and Resource Center. La Casa hosts a series of cultural and educational community programs, including Cuatro and Spanish Classical Guitar music instruction and presentations, and workshops/conferences on the history, arts and culture of Puerto Rico, and the contributions pioneered by the Puerto Rican community of New York City.
For Gala tickets, sponsorship, and/or inclusion in La Casa’ Limited Edition Journal:
Complete the Ticket Sales Form and/or the Limited Journal Ad Form attached and mail to:
La Casa de la Herenc ia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc.
1230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 458, New York, NY 10029
Contact La Casa at:
(212) 722 - 2600, (212) 400 - 8874 or (646) 945 - 4199.
By E-mail: LRpreci2@aol.com or Lacasaprnyc@verizon.net
Tickets:
$100 General Audience, $75 Seniors and Students with I.D.
