By Britney Milazzo<br><a href="mailto:britney.milazzo@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Britney</a>
Just as the water main broke outside the Vacanti family’s residence three weeks ago, Joshua Vacanti, 16, got a call “from America’s Got Talent judge and producer Nigel Lythgoe.
“I answered the phone and immediately said: ‘Call back later, I’m in the middle of a crisis,’ before I even knew who was on the phone,” said Vacanti’s mother, Diane.
Luckily, a few hours later, Lythgoe did call back.
Vacanti, 16, a sophomore at Lockport High School received a special invitation by Lythgoe to head out to New York City on Sunday for his first audition for America’s Got Talent.
“Nigel asked me to sing ‘Hallelujah,’ ” Vacanti said.
Lythgoe discovered Vacanti after he found several videos on YouTube.com of him singing, Vacanti said. There are five videos that include the songs “Listen,” “Hero” and “I Look to You.”
“His uncle actually decided to register Josh online,” Mrs. Vacanti said. “And Nigel choose the top three contenders to audition in New York.”
Vacanti will be auditioning in front of Simon Cowell and the producers of “America’s Got Talent.” “I’m most looking forward to meeting Simon,” Vacanti said.
Vacanti said he’s not nervous yet — but will be, once he heads to the Big Apple.
The teen said he specializes in gospel and soul-sounding music. “Even if I sing a modern song, I try to make it my own with a gospel twist,” Vacanti said.
Vacanti started singing at his church when he was 5. “I was born and raised in the church and want to extend my roots into singing,” Vacanti said.
Vacanti and his family are members of the Assembly of God Church in Lockport.
“We’re extremely proud of him,” Mrs. Vacanti said. “He works hard and is an amazing singer.”
Vacanti enrolled in several local talent competitions in the past, winning first place at the Historic Palace Theatre’s 2008 “Spotlight on Talent” show and the 2008 and 2009 Niagara Falls Idol competition. He also entered the Italian Idol contest in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area, the Fine Arts Festival and the LHS solo festival and qualified for state and national competitions.
A combination of practice and prayer will help Vacanti make it to the second audition in 2010, which will be aired on TV.
“I know whatever happens is in God’s hands,” Vacanti said.
Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
