The Republican Pop Song Contest will bring together young performers from all over Belarus in Novopolotsk

The Republican Pop Song Contest will bring together young performers from all over the country in Novopolotsk, the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The creative competition in three age categories, titled "Khali-halo," will be held from November 15-18 at the city palace of culture. "Last year, the contest participants included representatives from Novopolotsk, Polotsk, Minsk, Vileyka, Lepel, Bobruisk, Gomel, Mogilev, Borisov, Grodno, Baranovichi, and Odessa. The Grand Prix was taken home by Timur Shushkov from Mogilev. This year's contest is expanding its geography.

Talented children from Belarusian cities, as well as from Novopolotsk's sister cities in Russia, will take part in the program," the City Executive Committee noted. The jury of "Khali-halo-2012" will be headed by popular Belarusian performer Petr Elfimov. It is noteworthy that his first creative steps are also connected with the Novopolotsk stage: in 1995, 13-year-old Natalia Podolskaya from Mogilev took 2nd place at the festival, and her 15-year-old rival, Petr Elfimov, won the Grand Prix. In different years, guests and jury members also included Inna Afanasyeva and Larisa Gribaleva, soloist of the "Syabry" studio Valery Ryazanov, and soloist of the group "Elegant Company" Vladimir Stankevich (also known for playing the role of Denis Korablyov), Kirill Sluka, and DJ Jimi Nelson. "Khali-halo" has seven steps to success – its call signs have sounded in Novopolotsk 7 times. While the festival was initially held annually, in 1998, a decision was made to hold it every two years. However, there was a lull from 2003, and only in 2011 did children's voices sound again. The contest's return did not go unnoticed by the Ministry of Culture, which decided to grant it the status of a republican event this year.

The contest is held with the aim of discovering and supporting talented young performers, promoting the creative development and performance skills of children and youth, popularizing children's musical creativity, fostering artistic taste, reviving the best traditions of the pop genre, positioning children's vocal creativity as an integral part of Belarusian culture, and exchanging creative ideas and practical experience.