Leonid Zakhlevny did not give any participant of the children's competition "Vitebsk-2009" less than 8 points

July 14, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Leonid Zakhlevny gave no participant of the children's contest "Vitebsk-2009" less than 8 points. He admitted this to journalists today after the concert, a BELTA correspondent reports. The first day of the International Children's Music Contest "Vitebsk-2009" was held to a full house. 19 participants from 16 countries performed compositions in their native languages. Traditionally, their Vitebsk peers gathered to support them. Representatives of Russia and Ukraine (Andranik Aleksanyan won the national qualifying round of the children's "Eurovision" this year) received thunderous applause. The youngest contestant this year, seven-year-old Belarusian Maria Novik, returned twice for applause from the audience. Only the performer from Tajikistan performed without backup dancers. Ten-year-old artist Shokhrukh Yunusov captivated the Vitebsk audience with his masculine charisma and strong voice. It will not be easy for the jury members to choose a winner without a shadow of a doubt. Leonid Zakhlevny also confirmed this. "Each of the participants is a worthy contender for victory," he emphasized. The second competitive performance will take place tomorrow, July 15. Participants will have to perform any composition of their choice. -0-