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The Golden W is a gold award that can be presented to anyone who has served as chair of a local Richard Wagner Society for at least ten years. In this regular feature, we meet the people behind the pin and discover what has inspired and motivated them over the years.
Believing that the impossible is possible
John Mastrogiovanni has been dedicated to his Wagner Society for over thirty years. As chairman, he not only upholds traditions but, above all, seeks to help others discover the power of Richard Wagner's work.
Some chairpersons deliberately put themselves forward for the role. With John Mastrogiovanni, it was different. When he joined the WSSC (Wagner Society of Southern California) in 1992, he began supporting the then chairman almost immediately. As the latter's health declined, John took on increasing responsibility. His predecessor recognised not only his dedication to Richard Wagner, but also his commitment to the society's future. In 2009, he began preparing John step by step for the presidency. In May 2010, John officially took over the reins.
He has been chairman for sixteen years in the meantime. One of the traditions of which he is most proud is the annual Bayreuth Gala Dinner in August. It was his predecessor, Sherwin Sloan, who laid the foundations for this. John saw it as his responsibility to carry on his vision. This has now become an annual success, although he readily admits that organising it has by no means always been easy.
Yet it is precisely this that forms a significant part of his motivation. For John, the chairmanship is not primarily about a role or a position. Of course, leadership helps to give an association direction, but in his view, that is not where it begins. It begins with a love of Wagner's work and the joy that arises when others are introduced to it.
He enjoys seeing how people discover Wagner: during a performance, a lecture, a conversation or a group activity. Above all, the moment when someone is visibly moved by the music continues to inspire him. "My greatest joy is seeing others experience Wagner for themselves." That joy fuels his energy to keep going, time and again.
The Golden W therefore means more to him than mere recognition for a long chairmanship. For John, the award confirms, first and foremost, that he has successfully carried forward the vision of his own society for more than ten years. At the same time, he sees the Golden W as a sign that the RWVI and other Wagner societies also value his contribution to the international Wagner community.
His advice to other chairpersons is as ambitious as it is practical: believe that the impossible can become possible. According to John, a chairperson must love their association so much that their own enthusiasm inspires others to lend a hand. But that commitment must also be strong enough to carry on when that help does not come of its own accord. Then one must be prepared to do whatever is necessary oneself — with conviction and without regret. Board members also have an important role to play in this. They are not just there to attend meetings, but to enable their society to realise its ambitions. Sometimes this requires taking a leap of faith. Certainly, in towns and regions where Richard Wagner's works are rarely performed, the possibilities may seem limited.
John, however, sees no reason to give up before even trying. It is precisely there that a local Wagner Society can become a meeting place for people who hold his work dear. In his view, this need not be complicated. Sometimes progress comes precisely from keeping things simple — as long as it is made appealing, inspiring and vibrant.
The gold pin may be small, but the story behind it is anything but. It is a story of loyalty, responsibility and sixteen years as chairman. But above all, it is the story of someone who wants to pass on his own enthusiasm time and time again. Because for John Mastrogiovanni, Wagner is only truly alive when others discover him too.