It was a 5am alarm for Gisella Colletti on her 17th birthday this April.
The Banjup songstress was up early to prepare for a raft of media interviews, slipping effortlessly between radio station phone calls, television studio sit downs and video promos in her new role as one of three grand finalists in Australian Idol 2025.
Just days before, she and fellow talented teenagers – eventual-winner Marshall Hamburger and second-placed Iilysh Retallick – were voted into the reality singing competition’s Top 3. There was a lot to chat about and celebrate.
While the talented artist admits her birthday slipped her mind many times on that busy day, she would remember it forever, thankful to share it with her contemporaries in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It was a dream, I couldn’t have been happier,” she said.
“It was bittersweet too, not being able to spend it with my twin brother Cristian or my friends or the rest of my family, my dad, my sister Alessia and Nonna and Nonno.
“One really good thing about being away for so long was that my brother and I spoke every day on the phone which we’ve never done before and it brought us even closer.”
The Year 12 Corpus Christi College student was away for two months, spending much of her time at a Rooty Hill television studio in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Joined by some of Australia’s most talented contemporary singers, Gisella relished the camaraderie created by the show’s team including make-up and costuming experts, stage managers, musicians, a team psychologist and the steadfast presence of mum Sharee.
“Everyone was so friendly and really cared about us and were interested in us as people. I’m not sure if I was expecting that but it was wonderful, especially without my friends or the rest of the family close by,” she said.
Among the most rewarding experiences was her ability to have her say on the vocal arrangements for the songs she performed during the highly popular television series.
“I was very keen to put a Gisella stamp on each song and while the arrangements were provided, I was keen not to lose myself or my own musical intuition, and make the best of my unique voice.
“This is something Tina (Arena) also encourages and she supports my instinct not to rush into any hasty decisions about my future this year, and to just concentrate on finishing high school.”
Gisella began singing lessons as a seven-year-old after spending much of her previous years singing while in her ballet and jazz dance classes.
“She would always sing when she danced and eventually realised that singing was her true passion,” Sharee said.
“There is a history of opera singers in the family and a love for music. She participated in school choir from Year 3 to Year 12 and in rock and contemporary bands at Corpus Christi.
“She has regular lessons with her vocal coach, Danielle Passione, and has completed Australian Music Examinations Board studies with Creative Performing Arts Treeby.”
In this year’s Australian Idol, Gisella performed some powerhouse songs to critical acclaim, including famous numbers by Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Irene Cara, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston, culminating in a duet with her idol, fellow Australian/Italian performer, pop icon Tina Arena.
Taking the young performer under her wing, Arena invited Gisella to perform with her on the Perth opening night of her current tour, joining her on stage at the Riverside Theatre to sing Burn.
“The whole experience was larger than life, I am so thankful. Tina is very nurturing and everyone has been so supportive. I know I’m doing what I want to do.”
But the enriching odyssey also had its downsides with Gisella’s first experience of online trolling, something she is still learning to navigate but feeling more confident to speak out about.
“I think it’s important for people leaving hurtful and negative comments online to remember that those will be read by another human being with feelings and emotions just like they have,” Gisella said.
“I think there is a disconnect when people send these comments. They are just venting and don’t think about the consequences or actually want to cause any hurt. Except that it does.”
Gisella wasn’t the only show participant faced with the ugly symptom of stardom, but believes education is the key to social media users understanding their comments could have damaging and lasting consequences.
She is a supporter of Australian charity
Dolly’s Dream, established by Tick and Kate, the parents of Dolly Everett who lost her life to suicide at the age of 14 after an extended period of bullying and cyber bullying.
The charity is focused on changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide, through education and direct support to young people and families.
Gisella will soon sing at an upcoming fundraising event in Perth to support Dolly’s Dream which provides a 24/7 support line, a parent hub, an app and school workshops to combat bullying.
Find out more about the event by following the Dolly’s Dream Fundraising Team WA or Gisella's social media accounts.
For now, Gisella is concentrating on finalising her Year 12 studies, especially the completion of her Certificate 4 in Education Support.
She’s relaxing back into life at home with her closeknit family which live together with her Nonno and Nonna on a five-acre rural property where being outdoors in the garden with the animals are cherished activities.
When asked about her favourite place in Cockburn, Gisella describes a love of Coogee Beach and joyful memories of times spent doing VacSwim lessons with her brother and sister, and the elation of building sandcastles at the City’s annual Australia Day Coogee Beach Festival with her aunt and uncle.
“I also remember a great picnic with my friends at Ngarkal Beach. We swum in the calm water to the pontoon, it was a really beautiful day.”
Gisella’s Quintessentially Cockburn roots go back a while, having won the City’s annual Cockburn’s Got Talent competition twice and performed at the City’s Christmas by the Coast stage shows at Coogee Beach Reserve in 2023 and 2024.
Article by Michele Nugent.