Press Releases
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens announces the installation of a state-of-the-art new sound system for its historic property. The $30,000 project was supported in part by a major grant from Capital Group, as well as a matching personal contribution from Casa Romantica Board of Trustees Member Anthony Iorio. As a retired SVP for Capital Group and former technology executive, he was instrumental in facilitating the evaluation of the cultural institution’s unique needs, coordinating the Capital Group grant, and interfacing with the project vendors to realize the system.
“Casa Romantica produces programs and events of international caliber in San Clemente,” says Casa Romantica Executive Director Berenika Schmitz. “We are very grateful to be the recipient of the Iorio family’s and Capital Group’s generosity in improving our visitor experience to match the quality of our programming.”
Iorio was inspired to aid Casa Romantica when he attended concerts and lectures at the institution. “The limitations of the existing system were impacting the long-term goal of furthering Casa Romantica’s place among Orange County’s premier cultural and arts venues.
As a Board member and as someone who has led numerous audio/visual modernization projects throughout my career, I was compelled to adopt the Casa sound system upgrade project and champion the funding to see it through.”
Anthony Iorio and his wife Donna utilized a matching contributions program from his former employer, Capital Group (from which he retired in 2016) to initiate the fundraising for costs associated with evaluating the sound system. “Being involved with Casa Romantica has been very rewarding and is in line with our commitment to support local philanthropic endeavors,” says Iorio. “Capital Group also has a long history of encouraging its
active and retired associates to support charitable causes through a ‘matching gift’ program, and encourages associates to engage with the charitable organizations that they support financially. Serving on the Casa Board, a qualified non-profit organization, enabled me to pursue this very special funding opportunity.”
With these funds and an additional grant from Capital Group, Casa Romantica hired Integrated Media Systems of Costa Mesa, CA, led by CEO Brad Caldwell, to realize the project. The new state-of-the-art audio system provides capabilities to support both existing applications of live performance and community activities as well as new applications. The entire system is portable, and is controlled wirelessly by a specially configured iPad that interfaces with its mixers, receivers, transmitters, speakers and subwoofer, microphones, and closed-circuit wi-fi router. Integrated Media Systems was conscientious to create a system that was designed to provide professional performance quality audio, and that requires minimal deployment and training by Casa staff to use.
“Enhancing the experience of our patrons and community is at the forefront of Casa Romantica’s goals. This cutting-edge sound system will transform our users’ experience completely. We are so grateful to Tony and Donna for spearheading this project with their expertise, their philanthropic leadership, and their incredible generosity,” says Berenika Schmitz.
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Under the leadership of Executive Director Berenika Schmitz, Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2017-18 Casa Captivating season includes a new jazz series, visual and performing arts commissions, and an enhanced wellness program.
“Casa Romantica strives to be the epicenter for innovative artistic experiences in our southern California community,” says Casa Romantica Executive Director Berenika Schmitz.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola, and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 2,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
