The Grand Prix of the XXXII competition of young performers "Slavianski Bazaar" will go to Armenia
The Grand Prix of the XXXII International Pop Song Performers Contest "Vitebsk-2023" was won by a representative of Armenia.
Following the results of two competition days, Masha Mnjoyan received 135 points from the jury. At the same time, the decisive points that tipped the final outcome of the entire competition were awarded to the contestant for her performance of Otis Redding's world hit "Respect" during her second appearance on stage. "Emotions are overwhelming," admitted the winner of the main prize of the competition and the coveted "Lyra," standing on her lucky stage after the concert's conclusion:
– Thank you very much to Belarus for your warm welcome. It is a great happiness to be here, to perform on this stage. I saw Armenian flags in the audience. I want to thank all the representatives of our diaspora who came to support me. I know that many of my friends and family watched the live broadcasts and were very worried. It is all the more joyful to realize that I will soon bring the victory of this prestigious festival home.
As the jury chairman Dmitry Malikov had predicted, the outcome of the main intrigue of "Slavianski Bazaar" was decided by the final performance of the participants who presented a world hit to the jury. The Belarusian was just one point short of victory. Samir Yolchiyev became the recipient of the first prize, having accomplished the main task he set for himself in this creative competition:
– The most important thing for me was to represent my country with dignity. I think we succeeded. Armenia deservedly won. Masha sang incredibly well, she is a great professional. And overall, everything was magnificent.
The Belarusian representative expressed special words of gratitude to the team that prepared him:
– We tried very hard. In a month and a half, we did a tremendous amount of work, from images to staging. The most difficult part was to bring everything together, to make it harmonious, beautiful, and dignified. I chose the songs for the competition myself. For example, I really love the work of Vladimir Muliavin. His composition "Chyrvonaya ruzha," which I sang on the first day, is one of my favorites; it feels like my song. I can say the same about the composition "Feeling Good."
Samir Yolchiyev's victory became an important award in the achievements of the Vitebsk region, as the young man works at the Orsha City Culture Center "Pobeda". And on the closing day of the festival, an impressive support group from his hometown gathered at the concert:
– In fact, there was a lot of support from all over Belarus. I can't remember everyone, but it was very energizing and helpful. I am grateful to everyone who believed in me. I'm not planning far into the future yet. But I know one thing for sure: I will continue to make music and bring joy to people. I want to specifically mention the unique atmosphere that prevailed throughout the competition. It's special. Even while competing for victory, participants, first and foremost (sometimes even to their own surprise!), make friends here. For example, I would give my personal friendly "Grand Prix" to the contestant from Kyrgyzstan, Nurlstan Raimbekov. He's a really cool guy. I talked to him more than to others and got to know him a little. I can say that he is an excellent comrade and a great professional.
This year, representatives from 15 countries competed for victory in the competition of young performers. The II prize laureates were AGAPE (Italy) and Elizaveta Slyshkina from Russia. The III prize was shared by Kuralay Meyrambek from Kazakhstan and Malika Khakimova from Uzbekistan. Elizaveta Slyshkina (Russia) was awarded the Special Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus "Slavic Hope". The special prize named after Vladimir Muliavin for the best embodiment of the national theme and high performance skills was awarded by the jury to Kuralay Meyrambek (Kazakhstan). The special prizes of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia were traditionally presented to the best performer from the Republic of Belarus and the best performer from the Russian Federation. The special award "Song – a Path to Cooperation" from the Interstate Television and Radio Company "Mir" for high skill in preserving national traditions was awarded to Valeriy Solonari (Moldova).
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by