The return of Lo Zecchino D'oro in Melbourne

On October 18th and 19th, within the historic setting of Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, the Melbourne Italian Festa & Expo will host the second edition of Lo Zecchino in Melbourne.

Launched last year, Lo Zecchino d’Oro in Melbourne is a school-based educational project involving twelve primary school choirs from across Victoria. Its mission is to promote the Italian language and culture through the children’s songs of the original Zecchino d’Oro—which translates to “The Golden Coin.” 

Some Background

Lo Zecchino d’Oro is a music festival for children that began in 1959 with the Antoniano Choir of Bologna. The choir is run by the Franciscan Friars of St. Anthony, an organization known for helping those in need through social outreach and solidarity initiatives.

The festival has remained a fixture on Italian television since its inception, second perhaps only to the Sanremo Music Festival. Generations have grown up singing its songs—tunes that, over time, have evolved from entertainment into powerful vehicles for meaningful messages. Some of Italy’s greatest songwriters have contributed to this treasure trove: Pino Daniele, Lucio Dalla, Walter Valdi, Minellonno, Gorni Kramer, Fabio Concato, Mino Reitano, Silvio Amato, Toto Cutugno, and many others—including two especially prolific names, Franco Fasano and Lodovico Saccol.

Many songs became unforgettable hits. Who doesn’t know “Il coccodrillo come fa?” or “Quarantaquattro gatti”? Even recent songs have surpassed 2.5 million views online!

Every year, Lo Zecchino is curated by the Antoniano staff—experts in children’s music who select songs with meaningful themes such as dyslexia, ecology, mutual respect, family values, diversity, and inclusion.

A Personal Journey 

After returning to Australia post-COVID, I felt a strong desire to give back to the community with which I’ve always maintained strong ties.

Grateful to the country where I had a joyful childhood before moving to Italy, I knew I contribute something meaningful. But where to begin? With children, of course. They are the bridge to the future generations—natural ambassadors for preserving Italian culture.

An idea took shape: to bring Lo Zecchino d’Oro to Melbourne. 

I presented the concept to Marco Fedi and Elaine Bocchini of CO.AS.IT. and they embraced the idea wholeheartedly, recognizing how well it aligned with the organisation’s mission to promote Italian language and culture in Victoria.

From Idea to Reality

And so, a fruitful collaboration was born. While CO.AS.IT. manages the relationships with the participating primary schools, I act as the artistic director and host of Lo Zecchino d’Oro in Melbourne—a role that brings me immense pride and joy.

Together with my dear friend Franco Fasano, I personally select the songs and provide the initial training for the choirs—teaching the lyrics, explaining their meanings, and creating fun choreography for each group.

Once that foundation is established, I continue supporting the choirs remotely from Italy through video, while brilliant local schoolteachers carry on the work in person.

Continuing the Legacy

The first edition Lo Zecchino d’Oro in Melbourne in 2024 was a tremendous success. The audience didn’t just watch the performances—they felt the passion that the children and their teachers poured into every note, bringing each songs vividly to life.

As I introduced each choir on stage, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Seeing these young performers—many of whom are not of Italian heritage—sing Zecchino d’Oro songs in perfect Italian was nothing short of extraordinary.

I’m already deep into rehearsals with the next twelve choirs for the second edition. The excitement and joy in rehearsals is palpable. When we reunited, the children’s eyes sparkled with happiness. Over 70% of last year’s schools have returned—a powerful confirmation of the project’s value and positive impact.

From this exciting experience, a new school initiative was born: Italian in Music, which CO.AS.IT. will launch at the end of the year.

This year we have twelve fantastic songs, ranging from classic favourites to newer hits. But I won’t spoil the surprise—you’ll have to come see for yourself!

With Thanks

A special thank you to the Antoniano Choir of Bologna for giving us the opportunity to bring Lo Zecchino d’Oro to Melbourne. We’ve created a beautiful tradition– one that connects children across two continents through joy, playfulness, and, above all, solidarity—qualities adults often forget. But they’re worth remembering.