The winners have been announced in the 2019 New Wave Junior international contest for young pop music performers that was held in Artek. The first place is shared by two participants from Russia – Alisa Golomysova and Denberel Oorzhak. The latter, a young performer from Tyva, also received the Artek audience choice award as well a voucher for Artek’s sixth session in 2020.
There’s no better place to host the New Wave Junior contest than Artek, said head of the International Children’s Center Konstantin Fedorenko. “Nine countries, eleven finalists – these are not just kids who have certain vocal skills. These are artists! Every participant gave us a spectacular performance. It was impossible for me to decide who was best. I kept wondering how jury members could assess these kids.”
Fedorenko also took note of the project’s importance to Artek. “3,500 Artek children witnessed the standard that one should work for, strive towards. They saw every performer’s vocal skills, artistry and charisma. Even if a single one of those children gets inspired and decides to pursue a future in this direction, the project will be proven a success. That is another point of growth and transparency in Artek,” he said, adding that he believed the international contest to be “a further element in the promotion of Artek as a place for realizing children’s potential.”
For two days, the Artek Arena was boiling with incredible atmosphere and vibes as the multinational audience of some 3,000 Artek children supported the contestants, encouraging their professionalism and dedication with thunderous ovations. The participant from Tyva Denberel Oorzhak enjoyed the most support from the children, winning the audience choice award by popular vote. The young Tyva performer won over the audience with his voice, charisma and dramatic onstage presence. Artek’s Acting Director Konstantin Fedorenko awarded him with a voucher for Artek’s sixth session in 2020. Now the boy can attend Artek’s grand celebration – its 95th anniversary.
Artek children did, however, also support the professional jury’s choice, greeting the two first place winners – Russia’s entries Alisa Golomysova and Denberel Oorzhak – with a standing ovation.
The nine-year old Alisa Golomysova, a student of Alla Pugacheva’s Recital creative studio, chose to perform Pugacheva’s famous song Delu Vremya on the second day of the contest. The audience greeted the familiar song with thunderous applause, while the jury members commended Alisa’s accurate portrayal of the character. “I can see certain elements of Pugacheva’s performance reflected in your own, and that you have learned them from personal interaction with her,” said Igor Krutoy to the young artist. “Of course, you have your own artistic talent as well; you set the audience on fire. I am sure you will be highly commended. Good job!”
Alisa herself called her victory a great achievement and happiness: “I love every song that I perform very, very much. The audience at Artek gave me such an emotional welcome, I felt such a response. This is cool, this is great! I am so thrilled.”
After watching the performance of the other first-place winner Denberel Oorzhak, singer and jury member Yulianna Karaulova said: “I don’t know how you do it. This is phenomenal. This is so great. You’re a true artist; you take that stage and you enjoy it. I can see that. And I think that’s the most important thing for a performer. You’re so free that it is captivating; there is so much energy and life in this. Hold on to that! Take good care of yourself and your unique voice.”
“Everyone here is very talented, I am proud to be in Artek and winning today,” Oorzhak said from the Artek stage while thanking his teachers, Artek and his supporters. “You are a great audience; the children are so vocal and emotional in their support. I am always anxious before performing, but the second I go on stage, the anxiety fades. Maybe that is why I am doing well. I wanted to go to Artek ever since I was a little boy; I am very happy that today, this dream has come true. I am definitely going to return next year.”
Yaroslav Sokolikov from Belarus took second place, while Milana Pak from Uzbekistan came third. Within the framework of the contest, UK entry Erik Antonyan was awarded with a special prize from the Igor Krutoy Academy of Popular Music.
In the 12-year history of the New Wave Junior contest, the list of winners has included Anastasia and Viktoria Petrik (Ukraine), Kristina Svetlichnaya (Belarus), A-Lau duo (Kazakhstan), Razmik & Friends (Armenia), Andranik Alexanyan (Ukraine), Elizaveta Puris (Russia), Sonya Gyulkhasyan (Armenia), Sofia Tarasova (Ukraine), Arina Petrova (Russia) and Eva Liopa (Ukraine).