Dante Bacchetto, 16, is a Grade 11 student at North Battleford Comprehensive High School who’s embarking on a choir trip of a lifetime.
Bacchetto was chosen as one of 40 Canadian singers aged 10 to 20 to be part of the National Boychoir of Canada and perform a concert tour. The itinerary includes three concerts in Newfoundland, eight in Lecco, Italy, followed by a concert in each of Venice and Verona.
Dr. Carol Beynon of the University of Western Ontario asked Bacchetto to join the choir after Bacchetto performed in Saskatoon with Kamala Youth Choir. Bacchetto, a baritone, remembers Beynon was impressed by his performance in an arrangement of Imagine by John Lennon.
Beynon then emailed Bacchetto, along with his parents Lorenzo and Theresa, informing them of an opportunity for Dante to perform in the National Boychoir of Canada.
“I was stunned,” Dante said. “I didn’t even think it was going to be a possibility.”
Bacchetto’s father was also surprised by the invitation.
“It was actually quite a shock to get it because we weren’t looking for it,” Lorenzo said. “Any opportunity to travel and to perform would help any young man grow and develop as a person.”
Bacchetto began singing with the Battlefords Children’s Choirs, and participated in other local choirs before joining Kamala.
The trip to Italy is also significant because Bacchetto is visiting where his grandfather lived before immigrating to Canada.
Bacchetto is currently fundraising for the trip, and has contacted businesses and held a bottle drive.
While science and math are Bacchetto’s favourite subjects in school, he said he wants to continue with music in some capacity.
He said the trip will be a “great opportunity for me to learn about music and a great experience in general.”
