Belarus at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Liza Misnikova

Belarus has been participating in the Junior Eurovision since its inception in 2003.

In different years Belarus was represented by:

• Volha Satsiuk (2003), Tantsuy, 4th
• Egor Volchek (2004), Spjavajtse So Mnoj, 14th
• Ksenia Sitnik (2005), My Vmeste, 1th
• Andrey Kunets (2006), Noviy Den, 2nd
• Alexey Zhigalkovich (2007), S Druz'yami, 1th
• Dasha, Alina & Karina (2008), Sertse Belarusi, 6th
• Yury Demidovich (2009), Volshebnyi Krolik, 9th
• Daniil Kozlov (2010), Muzyki Svet, 5th
• Lidiya Zablotskaya (2011), Angely Dobra, 3rd
• Egor Zheshko (2012), A More-More, 9th
• Ilya Volkov (2013), Sing with Me, 3rd
• Nadezhda Misyakova (2014), Sokal, 7th
• Ruslan Aslanov (2015), Volshebstvo, 4th
• Sasha Minyonok (2016), Music of My Victories, 7th
• Helena Meraai (2017), I Am The One, 5th
• Daniel Yastremski (2018), Time, 11th
• Liza Misnikova (2019), Pepelny (Ashen), 11th
• Arina Pehtereva  (2020), Aliens, 5th

The prize places at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest confirm the success of Belarusian talented young singers. Belarus is the country to have won the contest twice.

The first success came in 2005, when Ksenia Sitnik with her song My vmeste won the contest. In 2007 it was Alexey Zhigalkovich with the song S Druz'yami to conquer Europe.

In June 2011, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) chose Belarus as the venue for the 2010 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Minsk. The 2010 Eurovision Song Contest held in Minsk became a remarkable event for the country, the guests and participants of the contest. The EBU believes that the show was fabulous: an excellent stage design and decorations, talented hosts, professional camera work, high-quality teleproduction.

Junior Eurovision 2018 in Belarus

In line with the decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in Belarus. The country played host to the contest for the second time since 2010. The popular show was held on 25 November 2018. According to the results of the jury voting and the televote, Roksana Wegiel from Poland won the contest. Belarus’ Daniel Yatsremski placed 11th. The organizer was the public broadcaster Belarusian TV and Radio Company (BTRC), the country’s only member in the European Broadcasting Union.

Belarus’ Liza Misnikova at Junior Eurovision 2019

A 14-year old Minsker Liza Misnikova won the national selection after her entry Pepelny (Ashen) scored 10 points from the audience and the jury. That was her fourth attempt to win the national selection.

“Choreography is the most important part of the show, because my song is very electrifying, cool even, something teenagers like very much. Some say that my performance reminds them of American singer Billie Eilish. Teenagers recognize the tune and dance to it – that is what we hope for,” Liza Misnikova said after the national final. “The Junior Eurovision is a significant stage in my musical career. The whole Europe will hear my song Pepelny. My main goal is to perform well, so that viewers will remember me, and of course, to win,” she added.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019 was held in Gliwice-Silesia (Poland) on 24 November. Young hopefuls from 19 countries took part in the grand final. Those were performers from Australia, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Wales, France and Poland. The slogan for the 2019 event was Share The Joy!  Liza Misnikova performed 7th in the final show. Belarus’ representative  scored 92 points and placed 11th.

Arina Pehtereva represented Belarus at Junior Eurovision 2020

In connection with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held in a new format. Following the decision of the European Broadcasting Union, the songs were broadcast live on 29 November.

The slogan of this year's contest is Move the World! The symbol is the planet painted in different colors. Every day, millions of people around the world perform their day-to-day duties with capability and care. Together, they are the ones really moving the world.

Twelve countries were take part in the international competition. Belarus was presented by 12-year-old Arina Pehtereva from Mogilev with the song Aliens. This composition was chosen out from all applications sent to the jury of experts. It was Arina’s third attempt which turned to be lucky. The young singer took part in the Eurovision national selection round in 2017 as part of a duo and one more time solo in 2019.

Arina Pehtereva has been into music since the age of 6. she began taking piano classes at the age of 8. She is fond of drawing and photography. Arina is also trying her hand in composing and songwriting. The young singer has been twice awarded a scholarship of the president's special fund to support talented young people.

Arina is the winner of 30 awards at international and national singing competitions and prestigious festivals. Among the most significant of them is the World Association of Festivals WAF silver medallion. In 2016, Arina Pehtereva became the youngest contestant of Arpeggio International Singing Competition in Malta. In 2019, Arina competed for the trophy of the popular TV project The Voice Kids as part of Svetlana Loboda’s team (6th season).

Arina Pehtereva’s performance was recorded at Belteleradiocompany’s studio 600 Meters. Viewers were hear the song Аliens in the Russian and English languages. Belarus’ participant placed fifth, receiving a combined score of 130 points from the expert juries and online voting.

Speaking about the story behind her song Aliens, Arina Pekhtereva said that the song was recorded in the spring, when the coronavirus pandemic broke out. “The meaning of the song is simple: the world has come to a halt, borders have closed, people can no longer communicate and visit each other, even this year’s Junior Eurovision has changed. But I believe that the future is in our hands and we, children, can save the world and make it better!” she noted.

Important! This year, the rules of the 2020 Junior Eurovision Song Contest have changed: viewers can now vote for three countries, including for their own country.

Беларусь на конкурсе молодых музыкантов "Евровидение" (Eurovision Belarus at Eurovision Young Musicians

Belarus joined the International Classical Music Competition "Eurovision Young Musicians" in 2010.

Belarus’ first entry at Eurovision Young Musicians 2010 cellist Ivan Karizna advanced into the finals (out of 14 semi-finalists).

Dulcimer player Alexandra Denisenya, winner of many international and national contests, represented Belarus at Eurovision Young Musicians in May 2012 in Vienna.

Belarus at Eurovision Young Dancers 2013 in Gdansk (Poland)

Belarus debuted at the Eurovision Young Dancers 2013 that was held in Gdansk, Poland, on 14 June.

Belarus’ was represented by Yana Shtangey, an 18-year old third-year student of the Belarusian Choreography College (class of the Merited Artist of Russia, People’s Artist of Belarus Klara Malysheva).

Yana Shtangey performed an excerpt from La Esmeralda ballet inspired by Notre Dame de Paris of Victor Hugo with music by Cesare Pugni.

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