The competition brought together entrants from Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, China, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Sweden. Organised in three rounds, the finals were accompanied by the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Belarus (conducted by Mikhail Sinkevich from St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre).
Fifteen Belarusians reached the second round, alongside four vocalists from Russia and four from Ukraine, two from Kazakhstan, two from China and one from Lithuania. Students from the Belarusian State Academy of Music became laureates and diploma holders: first place in ‘Solo Academic Singing (women)’ went to fifth year student Lyudmila Karpuk (soprano) while third prize went to fourth year student Marta Danusevich (soprano). Two other students — in their third and fifth years — received diplomas.
The international jury was headed by Honoured Artiste of Belarus Lyudmila Kolos — a professor of the Belarusian State Academy of Music. She was joined by Honoured Figure of Arts of Belarus Margarita Izvorska-Yelizarieva — a famous opera director, People’s Artist of Ukraine Professor Valery Buimister — a soloist with the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Honoured Artiste of Russia Lyudmila Shemchuk — a star of the Bolshoi Theatre, Honoured Artist of Kazakhstan Prof. Shahimardan Abilov — a soloist with the State Kazakh National Opera, opera singer and teacher Valeria Shirokanska (Bulgaria), and world famous singers Francesco Anile (Italy) and Branislav Jatić (Serbia).
