Nota d'Oro

Fifty years of children's songs in San Damiano d'Asti

The Nota d'Oro is one of the most beloved events in the town of San Damiano d'Asti, located in the heart of the Asti Monferrato region in Piedmont. It is a singing competition for children, built entirely around the repertoire of the Zecchino d'Oro, the famous festival from the Antoniano di Bologna. Reaching its fifty-first edition in 2026, the Nota d'Oro has been a staple of spring in this Asti province town for half a century, passing down a passion for music and the stage from generation to generation.

How the competition works

Children from the provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Turin participate in the competition. Each young contestant chooses two songs from the Zecchino d'Oro repertoire and prepares them carefully, performing on the stage of the Cinema Cristallo as a soloist, in a duet, or in groups of up to four. The performances are accompanied live by a musical ensemble and enhanced by dance interludes provided by local groups and dance studios. A qualified jury awards prizes, including the main award and special prizes dedicated to the memory of historical figures of the event.

A family tradition

• Cristina D'Avena, the iconic voice of cartoon theme songs and an honorary citizen of San Damiano d'Asti, has hosted the evening for over thirty years;
• The organization is managed by the San Vincenzo Parish in collaboration with the Zecchino d'Oro, the Mariele Ventre Foundation, and the Antoniano di Bologna;
• The event is sponsored by the Piedmont Region, the Municipality and Province of Asti, and supported by local banking institutions.

Over the years, the Nota d'Oro has become a true family story: it is not uncommon to see the children and grandchildren of those who sang there decades ago on stage, a testament to an emotional bond that spans multiple generations.

An event for the whole community

More than just a competition, the Nota d'Oro is a popular festival that fills the Cinema Cristallo with parents, grandparents, and friends. The atmosphere is warm and familiar, typical of the best local traditions, where the excitement of the young performers blends with the quality of an event curated down to the smallest detail. For San Damiano d'Asti and the entire Asti area, it is an unmissable spring appointment that unites music, childhood, and local identity.