Luigi was extremely generous to his music students in Napa during the Depression with reduced fees and even free lessons if they couldn't afford to pay. Luigi also mentored his students in many ways, one of which was making sure they were exposed to the classical music offerings around the Bay Area.
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One of the many concerts attended by Luigi and his family was the exciting San Francisco Symphony premiere in 1937 of George Gershwin's Concerto in F with Gershwin at the piano, as well as the premiere of his suite from Porgy and Bess. Daughter Vera was able to get the autograph of the conductor of the performance, Pierre Monteux (who had also conducted the very first performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, in Paris, for the Ballet Russe in 1913). This was not the only autograph Vera acquired that evening. Memorably, she was able to meet George Gershwin, himself, who autographed her program. This became a treasured family memento: |
Another musician that the Catalano family heard was the Puerto Rican pianist, Jesus Maria Sanroma, who, according to Wikipedia, "is considered by many to be one of the 20th century's most accomplished and important pianists." Below, is the signed photograph that Vera acquired in 1946:
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