Las Vegas concert article dated Dec o5

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SAN DIEGO -- A 10-year-old boy had the experience of a lifetime, 10News reported.

Three weeks ago, he was the only person invited onstage during a private concert to sing with the world-famous Andrea Bocelli.

Nico Ayala sang on stage in Las Vegas with Bocelli accompanying him on the piano.

"It was the highlight of my life -- his too, I think," said Nico's mother, Monique.

"He said, 'Thank you, Nico', and right after I was done singing, he said I was a future tenor for sure," said Ayala.

Ayala earned the rare opportunity the day before in a hotel lobby. He gave an impromptu performance for mega producers David Foster and Humberto Gatica.

They thought he was good enough for a rehearsal with Bocelli, who has been Ayala's idol since he fell in love with opera at age 4.

Bocelli was so impressed he invited Ayala onstage during the real performance.

"I listen to Andrea every night. I put on the CD player (and it's) still on in the morning," said Ayala.

"He would turn a song about socks into an opera song, or he'd be singing at the top of his lungs about his socks -- how he's putting them away," said Monique.

Ayala's pursuit of his passion even gets him in trouble at school for nonstop humming.

He said his performance with Bocelli only added to his ambition.

"(The crowd) cheered, and when I came down from the stage, they started clapping again," said Ayala.

His dream is to be one of the world's top tenors -- right alonside his idol.

Just this year, Ayala's grandmother found him an opera coach.

He's also won several talent competitions and his mother said he's the only one in his entire family who has ever shown any musical talent.

Watch the video here

http://www.10news.com/goodnews/5720876/detail.html