Residents of Lepel participated in the international competition of military-patriotic songs "Heartfelt Involvement," held in the city of Kholm, Novgorod Region. Ulyana Sokolyuk, a fourth-grader from the gymnasium, and Viktoria Romashko, a student at BNTU, returned with prizes.
This festival was dedicated to the Day of Airborne Forces and Special Operations Forces. Vocalists from Magnitogorsk, Novgorod, Tver, Moscow, Lipetsk, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Kazakhstan, and Bashkortostan came to showcase their talents and simply relax in good company. Most of the contestants are regular participants who know each other well. Some were inspired by army life, while others recalled their military service days (many vocalists are veterans of combat operations in hot spots), as the organizers accommodated them in a military unit. Even the catering was "on theme" – truly soldier-like.
For the local residents, the event became a significant occasion. Despite the ticket price, which was considerable by Kholm standards, the local House of Culture was packed. Spectators arrived with armfuls of flowers and were generous with their applause. Among the guests of the competition were also well-known figures from the stage. For example, Oleg Kukhta, an Honored Artist of Russia, actor, and singer. Among the participants were Vyacheslav Korneev and Alexey Ryabchenkov, the lead singer of the group "Kaskad." It might seem difficult for aspiring singers to compete with established colleagues. In reality, it is very simple, as no one boasts about their achievements here, no one performs for show or for money, and the jury is objective and impartial.
The stage director of the renowned international festival "Soldiers of Russia", Vladimir Mazur, who was part of the judging panel, was so captivated by the timbre and vocal range of Victoria Romashko that he invited her to perform at one of Moscow's most modern venues. In February, this young woman from Lepel, a graduate of Ershov Gymnasium, will be singing alongside stars of the Russian stage. It is no surprise that she was awarded the Grand Prix. Despite having long decided on her future profession and enrolled in a technical university, this does not hinder her from pursuing her passion, participating in various competitions, performing musical numbers at university events, writing poetry, and being part of an international volunteer movement.
The event was held beautifully and on a grand scale, lasting for three days. The jury highlighted several nominations. The first place for a performer under eighteen was awarded to the youngest participant, Ulyana Sokolyuk. She sang "Nema drugoy takoy" in Belarusian, as well as "Pechalnaya istoriya" from the repertoire of the VDV ensemble "Blue Berets". The young lady returned to the Lepel region with a Laureate Diploma, a badge, and a paratrooper statuette. However, this was not the only area where this long-haired beauty managed to excel. Her interests are diverse. She is an excellent student at the gymnasium, excelling in mathematics and literature. Once a week, she takes vocal lessons from Natalia Matyush at the RDC. She attends the Children's Art School, where she studies piano under Irina Filchenkova, and also develops her plasticity and grace under Svetlana Shesta. At the Centre for Children and Youth, she attends the "EcoArt" club, where she sculpts figures, makes crafts from straw, and so on. Her parents are constantly amazed at how easily and effortlessly their daughter manages her workload, with an seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy. Observing Ulyana, one understands that this is indeed the case. The girl is active, initiative, and curious, readily singing any song (even in foreign languages). Whether the music industry will be her lifelong pursuit remains unknown, as she faces the challenges of adolescence and the final formation of her voice, but the first steps towards success have already been taken.
Throughout this time, the closest people to the women of Lepel were cheering them on – their mothers. It so happened that both women are closely connected to the world of music and are the first musical mentors to their daughters. Anzhelika Sokolyuk works as a music director at kindergarten No. 6, and Irina Romashko is a music teacher at the gymnasium. It was they who initially recognized their children's abilities and gave an impetus for their further development.
Evgenia LYAKH.
In the photo: Ulyana Sokolyuk with awards in the courtyard of her beloved gymnasium.
Photo by the author.