The Piazza

The Piazza, or town square, is traditionally the heart of community and cultural life in Italy and in an Australian context it is unique. The Piazza, surrounded by Italian style restaurants and framed by Tuscan-inspired architecture, provides an atmosphere of unparalleled style.

The Piazza in the Forum is heavily utilised by the public on a daily basis: as a meeting point, to access the cafes, restaurants and Leichhardt Municipal Library - all facing on to the Piazza; the shops on the mezzanine level; the 153 residential apartments in the complex and as a thoroughfare between Norton St and Balmain Rd.

It makes a wonderful outdoor venue, with ample parking facilities and is conveniently situated at a central point between the east and west and north and southern parts of Sydney. The IFL is committed to promoting the communal spirit of the Piazza in organising community and cultural events, highlighting in particular, but not exclusively, Italian culture.

Sincopatico 2008

To view program click on Sincopatico 2008 on home page

In association with the International Association of Jazz Education, and as part of National Youth Week 2008, the Italian Forum Cultural Centre proudly presents the

3rd

Sincopatico Youth Jazz Festival

5th & 6th April

2.00pm – 8.00pm

FREE

in the Piazza of the Italian Forum

21-23 Norton St Leichhardt

More than 200 young musicians from Sydney high schools and tertiary institutions will blow you away with their musical talent and contemporary arrangements of the best swing and jazz tunes ever written - as well as a few originals - in this third annual outdoor youth festival of big bands, swing and jazz combos!

Special guest appearances, give-aways, raffles and lots of fabulous music!

PROGRAMME

Saturday 5th April

2.00pm - Forest High Combo

3.00pm - Caringbah High School combo

4.00pm - Jazz Workshop Australia combo - small ensemble

5.00pm - Mystery Band

6.00pm - North Sydney Boys High School 1

7.00pm - RAAF Air Command Jazz combo

Sunday 6th April

2.00pm - Jazz Workshop Australia combo

3.00pm - Jazz Connection

4.00pm - Hunters Hill High

5.00pm - Fort Street High School Combo

6.00pm - Killara High Big Band

7.00pm - Sydney Metro Big Band

for more information ring (02) 9518 0077

The festival takes its name from the weekly Italian Jazz program on Eastside Radio Sincopatico, which is, of course, a play on words: syncopation and simpatico – an Italian word meaning pleasant/friendly. The program can be heard on Eastside Radio 89.7FM each Thursday at 6.00pm.

With the Piazza surrounded by restaurants and cafes, you can dine, enjoy a great coffee or gelato. The Forum is family-friendly, has a shopping precinct on the mezzanine level and plenty of on-site parking.

We gratefully acknowledge our sponsors: Leichhardt Council, Billy Hyde Stage Systems, Viatour Travel, 89.7FM Eastside Radio, Music 101 and Birdland Records, with special thanks to the International Association of Jazz Education for their valued contribution in this collaboration. All have helped to provide this platform of opportunity to the youth in our community.

The objectives of this festival are to:

Ø Provide an opportunity to showcase the talents of Australian school students and youth groups through music;

Ø Provide a platform for young musicians to step up into the public performance arena;

Ø Promote the musical achievements of Sydney’s youth through community and accessible cultural events;

Ø Encourage people to embrace the sense of community in their locale by participating in and supporting cultural and community events.

For further information please call 9518 0077

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Christmas & Befana at the Italian Forum Sponsored by

Giffoni Film Festival (sneak preview) was an official event of the Sydney Italian Festival 2006 and presented under the auspices of the Consulate Generale of Italy in association with the Italian Institute of Culture and the Italian Forum Cultural Centre.

Teatro Pupi Macrì
The colour, passion and magic of Sicilian puppet theatre comes to Sydney for the first time when the Italian Forum Cultural Centre, in association with the Italian Institute of Culture, proudly hosts the Teatro Pupi Macrí in their only Sydney appearance after their stint at the National Folk Festival in Canberra.

Listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s 19 “masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”, Sicilian Puppet Theatre is artistic expression of the highest order. Marionettes measuring up to 1.5m come to life and play out tales of heroism and tragedy in a spectacle which has been entertaining Sicilians for hundreds of years. The Teatro Pupi Macrí, founded in 1887, hail from Acireale on Sicily’s enchanting east coast, and have been touring throughout Europe and beyond since the late thirties.

Their first time in Australia will see them perform a classic from their vast repertoire, Le Avventure di Orlando (Roland’s Adventures), based on the Song of Roland, telling the tale of the knights of the Emperor Charlamagne and their battles with the Saracens. Topical, powerful, moving, magical. An experience not to be missed.

There will also be a performance from 6pm of Sicilian folk music, percussion and Tarantella by visiting artist Alessandra Belloni, recognized as one of the finest exponents of traditional Italian tambourine and percussion in the world.

This event was proudly sponsored by Forum restaurateur Sam Bakafoukas and Marles Jewellers in the Forum.

Norton St. Festa, April 2006 - entertainment throughout the day, ending with an evening concert spectacular featuring Alessandra Belloni (NY) and local artists.

The Inaugural Sincopatico Youth Jazz Festival,
Sunday 19 March 2006 10.30am – 8.00pm
A FREE EVENT - Proudly brought to you by the Italian Forum Cultural Centre and the International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE).

Up to 150 young musicians from Sydney high schools showcase their talents in this inaugural outdoor event: an all-day youth festival of big band jazz and swing.

It features the best of high school ensembles with the special guest appearance of the RAAF Air Command Jazz Combo. The festival name is a play on words: syncopation and the Italian word simpatico meaning pleasant/friendly.

Surrounded by restaurants and cafes, you can dine or simply indulge in a great coffee or gelato. The piazza is family-friendly, has a shopping precinct on the mezzanine level and on-site parking.

There will be lots of give-aways, the chance to win a guitar, CDs and more, so come and join us in this day of fun and entertainment while supporting the musical youth of Sydney and jazz in all its awesome forms!

Our proud sponsors are: The Music Place; Leichhardt Council, The Italian Forum Commercial Strata, Billy Hyde Stage Systems, Eastside Radio, Music 101, Birdland Records and The Vintage Record.

View the program: pdf version of flier

Novo Amadeus Orchestra and Sandro Ferri, tenor, December 2005 - direct from Italy, they played an inspired repertoire of Italian classical music and opera.

Sbandieratori Leone Rampante Di Cori,
Sunday, the 20th of November 2005

For the second time in two months, the Italian Forum Cultural Centre is proud to be associated with a unique and spectacular cultural event in the piazza of the Italian Forum this Sunday, the 20th of November. With the support of the Italian Forum and the Cultural Centre, the public will be able to witness a free performance by the Sbandieratori Leone Rampante Di Cori. The performance will begin in the Piazza of the Italian Forum at 2pm.

The Sbandieratori are the keepers of a performance tradition which harks back to medieval times. Resplendent in costume and accompanied by drums and trumpets, they transport the audience to another time in history. Performing various choreographed sequences, with different combinations of performers, they entrance their audience with their skill and precision and astound them with as they hurl their flags high into the air and catch them again. Of the many such groups which exist in Italy, these 25 performers distinguish themselves with the unique nature of their show and are particularly recognized for the heights they reach when throwing their flags.

The performance of the Sbandieratori Leone Rampante Di Cori promises to be an event not to be missed and it is hoped that as many people as possible will be down at the Forum to witness a unique event and certainly one of the most admired from our Italy.

The Italian Forum Cultural Centre gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Leichhardt Chamber of Commerce, the Italian Forum Commercial Strata and theItalain Institute of Culture.

The Keltic Circle, Italians, Celts & all that jazz. A celebration of Food, Music & Culture.
Proudly brought to you by the ITALIAN FORUM CULTURAL CENTRE & PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE.

Sat 1 – Mon 3 October (long weekend)

Featuring:

Display and tasting of new gastronomical delights from the piedmont region of northern Italy ( Saturday – Monday)

A celtic festival featuring local celtic musicians and dancers, and the Sydney debut of Italian celtic band Labgraal (Sunday)

A concert by leading Italian jazz group The Larry Franco band (Monday)

Plus

Music throughout the weekend, including Marsala, miso, gael mor, ragged band and more…

Stalls with display and tasting of Piemontese products PLUS Other stalls associated with Celtic culture plus a conference on Celtic culture and its presence in Northern Italy

Brought to you by Italian forum cultural centre in association with principe di piemonte and the assistance of the Celtic Council of Australia

National Youthweek Concert, April 2005 - a showcase of young talent from the inner west, displaying their talents in music, dance, beat box and more!

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