Local singer Frank Gioia has earned runner-up honours for Best Song Interpretation at the Sanremo Senior 2025 International Singing and Music Competition in Sanremo, Italy.
Gioia performed Marina by Italian-Belgian legend Rocco Granata, a song that holds personal meaning for the performer — both his father and Granata were born in Figline Vegliaturo, a small village in Calabria.
Working with musician Frank Greco, Gioia reimagined Marina as a piano-led arrangement praised for its emotional depth and elegance.
Gioia thanked his community, fans and online supporters for their encouragement, saying their support made the moment unforgettable.