Gigi Bertagna Marks 50 Years Leading the Choir in Desenzano

Gigi Bertagna is marking 50 years as conductor of the Santa Maria Maddalena choir at the Duomo in Desenzano del Garda. He was initially appointed on a temporary basis in 1976 for a single Sunday by parish priests Don Mario and Don Valerio, while awaiting a permanent director who was never identified. The choir, active since 1972 and performing throughout the liturgical year, has remained under his direction ever since.

To celebrate the anniversary, the choir performed on Saturday, 5 September, at the 6:30 pm Mass. After the service, it presented pieces from its repertoire, and the evening ended with a community refreshment at the Oratory Paolo VI. Over the decades, the choir has worked with the Desenzano municipal administration on choral events and has taken part in twin-city exchanges with Amberg in Germany and Wiener Neustadt in Austria.
Italian Version