The young people of the Christmas Contest sing about a better world

The Pope wants to make the world a better place through the voice of the youngest. Thus was born Christmas Contestthe singing competition reserved for artists between 16 and 35 years old and open to songs from all musical genres, as long as they are unpublished. Promoted by the Culture Foundation for Education with the patronage of the Secretariat of State for Education and Culture and in collaboration with the Cultural Institutes of the Republic of San Marino. Now in its fourth edition, the 2024 winners announced at the end of September they will perform during the historic Christmas concert – recorded on December 14th at the Auditorium della Conciliazione in Rome and broadcast in prime time on Canale 5 on the evening of December 25th conducted by Federica Panicucci – in the presence of great artists such as Roberto Vecchioni, Ricchi e Poveri, Fabrizio Moro, Ditonellapiaga, Raphael Gualazzi, Iva Zanicchi, Boomdabash, Fausto Leali, Omar Pedrini, from Italy; from the world, among others The Trammps (USA) and Emeli Sandé (UK) and the Benedict Gospel Choir (USA). Everyone will perform live accompanied by the Italian Cinema Orchestra directed by Maestro Adriano Pennino. A concert that looks to the Jubilee, the day after the opening of the Holy Door, and aims to bear witness to links and bridges between traditions and cultures.

«When we hear about culture we think of books for a few, of the formal culture of academies. But the Pope and Cardinal Josè Tolentino help us understand that culture concerns everyone” he said Monsignor Davide Milanipresident of the Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo, director of the Rivista del Cinematografo and secretary of the “Pontifical Foundation for Culture for Education” of the Culture for Education Department of the Holy See, during the award ceremony of the Christmas Contest at the end of September. «It happens through a book, a film. It's our way of thinking about the world. How much does the world of popular, pop music shape my thinking and my understanding? It allows us to tune our feelings to that of someone who was able to make our wounds or our joys universal. Culture serves to enter the great breath of the world with a work of art. The Christmas contest offers this opportunity to young people: to measure themselves and compete which doesn't necessarily mean “we will win”, but to ask themselves “Could this be my future and my job? Or will it be my passion to cultivate for myself for others and for my happiness?”. How many people with the gift of singing have made the lives of others beautiful. But, above all, I am struck by the fact that so many young people like you have put their minds to the themes of the contest and have been able to share these reflections.”

Led by Arianna Ciampoli – «adults have the habit of locking you into their categories, but every time you are given the opportunity to express yourself prove to be a great revolution. I will carry you in my heart with your thousand nuances» – the contestants sang about life, love, hope, climate change, loneliness. We met the winners: the prize best interpretation of Eva Maria Nicolescu da Bucarest, Romania; it best music award al Brigth Trio (Saule Tamulionyte, Emilis Tamulionis e Giedré Genutaityte) con Be as you are from Lithuania and the Best text award MasalaeForesta by Miriam Masala and Giuseppe Foresta.

Eva Maria Nicolescu16 years old, with a song about love. «The pandemic was a very thinking time for us young people» he told us. «The circle of people around us had distanced themselves emotionally, we noticed the fear of being close. That's why I sing about the love that unites us, the touching hand is the best way to find each other. I need to touch you and have you there to be close again, in an empathetic way, beyond the screens». Eva Maria sings «the superficial love of our generation and it is difficult to find the real one. We live in a world of screens because our generation lives everything on social media, it is impossible to go in depth.” In the song he asks «where will I find him, will I ever have the chance to meet him? Because even my relationships pass through social media… you meet on Instagram and there are no phases of love… you don't create a deep relationship… you see people who don't understand the depth of the word love. We must realize – but a superior intelligence is needed – that in this way the image of love is being destroyed.”

Il  Brigth Trio (Saule Tamulionyte, Emilis Tamulionis and Giedré Genutaityte) con Be as you are from Vilnius in Lithuania won the best music award. They are a mother and two children: Giedre is 45 years old, Saule is 16 and Emilis is 19. «We are a family in which everyone sings, even my mother and father. There was no such thing as being without music. Emilis has a music studio at home and has created a punk band with friends. Saule prefers heavy metal and jazz. The song we sang is a modern gospel. An encouragement to be yourself because many times we hide from ourselves and from each other and do not accept ourselves. An encouragement not to give up every day. Each of us has two wolves living inside us: one cute and the other ugly and black. What you feed is what wins. We nourish our light, we accept who we are».

MasalaeForesta by Miriam Masala and Giuseppe Foresta won the best text award. Miriam is 32 years old and comes from Albenga, Giuseppe is 35 and comes from Reggio Emilia. Theirs is a brotherly friendship. «We are very similar, we both come from large families. The beauty of Christmas is being free to be together, the warmth of being together. All moments that maybe you struggle to have during the year.” Their song is along this same line. «We sing Christmas, that moment of the year in which to cultivate that human contact that is missing during the year. Is it so easy to be united at Christmas because we can't be united during the year? The simplicity of two hands holding each other. Doing things together is the true form of love.”

The beauty of this Contest is that in subsequent editions it also hosts those who won the previous ones. As Felicity Lucchesi, 29 years old, who won in 2022 the best music award con Christmas comet. «An invitation to people to have hope and follow the comet in the dark of the night. The comet that is Jesus, who came to light the way.” Felicity who sang at the Arena di Pace in Verona on May 18th. «Singing peace in front of the Pontiff was an honor and a very significant moment. I set to music the psalm chosen for the day “justice and peace will kiss”. Felicity who in addition to singing also has another passion: football. «Two passions that today, being part of the national singers team, meet».

O Francesco Tiberiand finally, 33 years old, who won the best music award in 2023 with a song about Alzheimer's. «In life I manage a retirement home with 75 guests in Todi, my work inspired the song. I have compared the elderly to stopped clocks, because they no longer remember how to calculate time. Alzheimer's is a topic that should never be forgotten, not even at Christmas.”