On May 8, 2024, the Teatro Regio di Parma announced the winners of the “Elena Formica” Opera Writing Award.

Taking home first prize was Elena Mora of the Liceo Classico “Gian Domenico Romagnosi.” She received 12 invitation tickets for the opera scene, ParmaDanza, and RegioYoung 2025. In second place was Sofia Quintavalla of Liceo Linguistico “Guglielmo Marconi” and received six invitation tickets.

The third prize ex aequo went to Irene Elena Pocaterra and Annamaria Melfa, each receiving four invitation tickets. All the winners also got the Regio People Volume and a six-month digital subscription to Gazzetta di Parma.

This year, over 180 students and teachers took part in the free critical writing workshop organized by the opera company in partnership with Gazzetta di Parma. Students and teachers engaged in workshops throughout November 2023 through March 2024, while getting access to the process of putting on “L’Elisir d’Amore” at the Teatro Regio di Parma.

The jury was comprised of Luciano Messi (Superintendent of the Teatro Regio di Parma), Claudio Rinaldi (Director Gazzetta di Parma), Andrea Estero (President ANCM, Director of Classic Voice), Alessandro Cafiero, Gian Paolo Minardi (Gazzetta di Parma), Mara Pedrabissi (Gazzetta di Parma), Vittorio Testa (Gazzetta di Parma), Roberta Pedrotti ( apemusicale.it ), Alberto Mattioli (La Stampa, Il Secolo XIX), Pierachille Dolfini (Avvenire, pierachilledolfini.it ), Alessandro Rigolli ( giornaledellamusica.it ), Giulio Baffi (President of ANCT, la Repubblica), Enrico Marcotti (Libertà) and the curators of the workshop Angelo Foletto (President of the Franco Abbiati Award for Italian music criticism, la Repubblica), Carla Moreni (Domenica del Sole24ore), Valeria Ottolenghi (ANCM external relations, Gazzetta di Parma).