CORO DEI BAMBINI – BRUNSWICK NORTH PRIMARY 2025

Our Coro dei bambini started in 2013 as a small group of 45 interested students with a passion for Italiano and music. This year we had 130 students from grades 3-6 and they gather once a week during a playtime to learn our 7 songs. Our songs are Italiano favourites and also songs from Zecchino d’Oro. We sang – 'That’s Amore', 'un elefante si dondolava', 'Sara` perche` ti amo', 'I want to be in Italy', 'Nonna Rock', 'Tintarella di Luna e il Ballo del Qua Qua'. A special Coro group also performed a Nonna song by a local Coburg band – Vaudeville Smash - and two of the band members even came to sing with us!

Our Zecchino d’Oro group performed Il lungo, il corto e il pacioccone, which they also sang at the Melbourne Italian Festa this year.

We practice the whole year to be ready for a workshop at school where we meet the band that will play with us on the night – Roger and Gino. This year, we were also joined by la mamma di Sophie e Luca – Sarah – who played the keyboard and trumpet throughout the night! We were also very fortunate to have Eugene, il papa di Eva e Ewan, who took wonderful photos and video throughout la serata. The whole school has been viewing them in their Italiano lesson. Almost 450 very happy family and friends spent Thursday the 30th of October singing and dancing at the Vizzini Club in Coburg. The sala was decorated with the artwork of the children and there were lots of verde, bianco and rosso adorning the room. Our Parent and Friends committee, led by Natahsa and Kirstyn, set up the night’s decorations. Older brothers and sisters, who are now in secondary school, also came to support the night. Our Language Assistant – Eleonora Massaro – opened the event with the Acknowledgement to Country spoken in Italiano. We danced la tarantella and ate a tasty slice of pizza margherita after the performance!

This year, the Coro also had their own Coro t-shirt to wear which was designed by la mamma di Julian e Tommy – Natasha – with some art ideas from the students. After the performance everyone could make their own maschera and fan, and even have their photo taken in our own photo corner - this was very popular! To conclude the night, we all had a chance to dance la Tarantella together with family and friends. Everyone is thrilled to see the passion of these students to want to sing and perform in Italiano. Musica is a universal language that connects us all. It’s a great way for students to learn about pronunciation, and what motivates immigrants to celebrate their love of their culture and share it with their new community. Adam Dunemann also played guitar during Sara` perche` ti amo. He spoke about how this is such a valued community event for the school and why it is such a popular annual night together.

Grazie to the Staff - Lina, Hannah, India and Eleonora – who helped on the night! Now – we start preparing for next year!

Bruna Centofanti e Eleonora Massaro (Language Assistant)

Genesis Music