Upcoming

MARIO LANZA BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE PARTY

Saturday January 27, 2024, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Mario Lanza Museum
1214 Reed Street Philadelphia, PA 19147

Join us for special afternoon as we commemorate the 103rd anniversary of Mr. Lanza’s birth.
The afternoon features a special performance by soprano Dominika Zamara and guitarist Stanley Alexandrowicz, a Mario Lanza video presentation plus hoagies, pasta salad and birthday cake.
Party starts promptly at 1:00pm.

Admission price: $35 per person.

Checks should be made out to Mario Lanza Institute and mailed to:

Mario Lanza Institute
1214 Reed Street Philadelphia, PA 19147

For information or to make a credit card payment call 215-238-9691.
Seating is limited and on a first come first paid basis.
No refunds or credits. No exceptions.

Street parking.

Please RSVP by January 20, 2024, and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.

WHAT IS BEL CANTO? LECTURE PRESENTATION

Saturday February 24, 2024, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Mario Lanza Museum
1214 Reed Street Philadelphia, PA 19147

Featuring a look at this style of singing with examples from Sutherland, Horne, Pavarotti, Callas, Bergonzi and many more. There will also be assorted goodies to enjoy.

Event starts promptly at 2:00pm.
Admission price: $25 per person.

Checks should be made out to Mario Lanza Institute and mailed to:

Mario Lanza Institute
1214 Reed Street Philadelphia, PA 19147

For information or to make a credit card payment call 215-238-9691.
Seating is limited and on a first come first paid basis.
No refunds or credits. No exceptions.

Street parking.

Please RSVP by February 24, 2024, and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.

Recent Events

2023 Scholarship winners at Mario Lanza Ball at the IATSE Ballroom in Philadelphia, PA. L-R: Matthew Goodheart (3rd place), Angel Gomez (1st place), Cumhur Görgün (2nd place) and accompanist Luke Housner.

Mario Lanza & His Music Lecture October 21, 2023, at the Benvenuto Sons of Italy lodge in Havertown, PA.

Pizza & Movie Dinner event at the Lanza Museum in Philadelphia, PA October 21, 2023.

MARIO LANZA MUSEUM CHRISTMAS PARTY

Saturday December 2, 2023, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Mario Lanza in Great Moments from Italian Opera Lecture Presentation

Saturday November 11, 2023

Mario Lanza Museum Luncheon

Saturday September 16, 2023

Great Operatic Voices On the Ed Sullivan Show

Saturday, August 19, 2023

The Three Tenors ~ A Retrospective

June 24, 2023

Mario Lanza Museum Luncheon

July 22, 2023

A visit by members of the Baltimore Chapter of Filitalia International as well as members of Filitalia International in Philadelphia

July 23, 2023

A visit by members of the Baltimore Chapter of Filitalia International as well as members of Filitalia International in Philadelphia, some of their students and Dott.ssa Patrizia Calanchi-Monti, Director of the Education Office of the Italian Consulate (front row in blue). Next to her in orange is Elizabeth Scali Pease President Filitalia International Baltimore Chapter and behind her with the blue pocketbook is Lori Trump First VP Filitalia International Baltimore Chapter. Behind her left shoulder is Saverio Nestico President of Filitalia International and on the far right in white is Paula Bonavitacola Past President Filitalia International Baltimore Chapter.

Mario Lanza Museum Luncheon

Saturday May 20, 2023

Tony Bennett ~ Classic Songs from a Classic Performer

Lecture Presentation on April 22, 2023.

MARIO LANZA MUSEUM LUNCHEON

Saturday March 25, 2023 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Mario Lanza Museum
1214 Reed Street Philadelphia, PA 19147


Featuring a complete showing of “The Great Caruso” starring Mario Lanza, Ann Blyth and Dorothy Kirsten.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers ~ The Personification of Grace, Elegance & Class Lecture/Video Presentation

Saturday February 25, 2023 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm


PARTNERSHIP WITH THEATRE EXILE

February 8, 2023

From the February 8, 2023 Theatre Exile cocktail party/reception at the Lanza Museum. This was the prelude to their opening night performance of “The Light.” It was a great group of people, many of whom were seeing the museum for the first time, and there were some nice goodies to nibble on. Theatre Exile is our neighbor, and it was an auspicious beginning to the partnering of our two organizations in the promotion of culture in Philadelphia.

MARIO LANZA MUSEUM BIRTHDAY PARTY

January 28, 2023

MARIO LANZA MUSEUM HOLIDAY PARTY

Saturday December 17, 2022

Mario Lanza Museum Luncheon

November 2022

Mario Lanza Ball Weekend

2022

Mario Lanza Ball Weekend Dinner 2022

Lanza Ball Weekend Dinner 2022

Lanza Ball Weekend Dinner 2022

Lanza Ball Weekend Dinner 2022

Lanza Ball Weekend Dinner 2022

Frank Sinatra – A Celebration on 9/17/22

Elvis presentation on 8/20/22

MARIO LANZA MUSEUM LUNCHEON JULY 16, 2022

Dean Martin Lecture event April 23, 2022

Mario Lanza Museum Luncheon 1214 Reed Street in Philadelphia.

Saturday March 12, 2022

The Mario Lanza Museum covered in the Philadelphia Inquirer. See it here.

The president of the Mario Lanza Institute was recently interviewed. See it here.

Mario Lanza Birthday Party

2022 at the Museum

Mario Lanza Ball IATSE Ballroom

Mummer's Strut at Mario Lanza Ball

2021 Scholarship Winners

2021 Scholarship Winners (L-R): Kara Goodrich (3rd place), Shelen Hughes (4th place), Thomas Petrushka (2nd place) and Shanley Horvitz (1st place) with Mary Pinto accompanist.

"Serenade" Luncheon attendees at Mario Lanza Museum

MARIO LANZA MUSEUM IS NOW OPEN!

The Mario Lanza Museum will be open on most Saturdays from 1pm – 4pm. Admission is $10 per person and all attendees must wear a mask and observe social distancing regulations at all times. Tours are given on the hour. Please call 215-238-9691 or email info@mariolanzainstitute.org for more information. Please note that the museum will generally only be open on Saturdays for now. Sorry for any inconvenience. Special arrangements can be made for additional days but reservations need to be made at least 2 weeks in advance. The museum is located at 1214 Reed Street in Philadelphia.

Follow Us on Facebook!

On Saturday June 19th, the Save Our Sites organization held their 15th annual event at the Mario Lanza Museum in Philadelphia. They were our second outside organization to book the museum for a special event. Following a lecture which included clips of Lanza in his films and on TV and tour of the museum, Mario Lanza Institute President Bill Ronayne accepted the 2021 Save Our Sites Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation for the new Mario Lanza Museum. Pictured are Bill Ronayne and David Traub co-founder of the Save Our sites organization and the award. A reception featuring wine, cheese and fruit concluded the afternoon. The Mario Lanza Institute would like to thank the Save Our Sites organization for this prestigious honor.

On May15, 2021, we had our first outside group private party. Members of the Sons of Italy Mario Lanza Lodge #2308 booked the Mario Lanza Museum for the afternoon which included a delicious lunch of hoagies, antipasto, pastries and cookies. After lunch, the group received a lecture on Mario Lanza from MLI president Bill Ronayne as well as a tour and enjoyed Mario Lanza’s recordings on the sound system and film and TV appearances on the large screen TV. It was a very fine afternoon with a great and fun group of people.

The Mario Lanza Museum is the perfect place to hold your next organizational or club meeting or to host an anniversary, birthday or cocktail party. The spacious room, with amenities including large screen TV, state of the art audio system, couches, café tables and chairs, is decorated with assorted memorabilia from the life and career of the celebrated tenor from South Philadelphia. Its extraordinary ambience and atmosphere will make your special event one that will long be remembered by your attendees. For more information and to book your event, please contact us at 215-238-9691 or info@mariolanzainstitute.org.

Virtual Tour

Take a short virtual tour of the museum. It’s great preparation for an actual visit.

Mario Lanza Way!

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mario Lanza, the City Council of Philadelphia passed a resolution also naming the 1200 block of Reed Street, which is where the Mario Lanza Museum is now located, Mario Lanza Way. Viva Mario!

New Date for Mario Lanza Ball!

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions in place and our concern for the well-being and safety of those planning on attending our annual event, we have moved the Mario Lanza Ball to November 20, 2021 from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. More information will be posted as we get closer.

In addition, the Mario Lanza Scholarship auditions will now take place in October of 2021 date and place to be announced. Please check the scholarship page for an announcement in the next few months.

In these trying times, all arts organizations are really feeling the financial pinch. The Mario Lanza Institute is among them and needs your help. Please consider making a donation by clicking on the donate button. Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps.

If you prefer to donate by check, please make it out to Mario Lanza Institute and mail it to:
Mario Lanza Institute
PO Box 54624
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Thank you for your support. We look forward to welcoming everyone with a grand reopening once the restrictions have been lifted and it is safe to do so.

 

To make an online donation, using a credit card or PayPal, please click the button below:

 

An interview with MLI President Bill Ronayne about the Capital Campaign Fund.

Play Audio

Note: It takes about a minute before the interview starts. Listen all the way to the end to hear Mario Lanza sing two songs.

Another Interview with Bill Ronayne, on Radio Voice Italia

Play Audio

30 minutes with Bill Ronayne of the Mario Lanza Institute

This program features the Mario Lanza Institute and Museum.

see below

Radio Interview about Mario Lanza Institute

by YesterdayUSA.com | February 19, 2020

ABOUT US

The Mario Lanza Institute, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, honors the memory of the late, great singer by sponsoring scholarships to promising young singers to further their training and careers. More than 200 scholarships have been awarded and many of the recipients have gone on to perform at major opera houses. The scholarships are awarded to winners of an annual competition. Vocal auditions are held in October. In November, a Mario Lanza Institute announces the winners at the annual Ball.

The Institute also houses a museum featuring photos and artifacts related to Mario Lanza. Holdings include clothing worn by Mario, original movie posters, boxing gloves he used in his youth, and some of his gold records If you would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to Mario Lanza Institute and mail to the following address: Mario Lanza Institute PO Box 54624 Philadelphia, PA 19148

Correspondence

Please note that all correspondence including inquiries, mail orders, donations and Associate Member renewals etc. should be sent to the following address only:

Mario Lanza Institute
PO Box 54624
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Scholarship Winners: L-R: Daniel Rich (First Place), Mackenzie Gotcher (Second Place), Claire De Monteil (Third Place) and accompanist Luke Housner.
The Mummer’s Strut at the Ball
The Mummer’s Strut at the Ball
Elaine Malbin and Joanne Palladino at the Cocktail Hour.