#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Tatiana Poletskaya

Photo made available by the singer

My name is Tatiana Poletskaya. I’m originally from Moscow, Russia. Type of my voice is a lyric soprano. I graduated from Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow in 2012 and then I moved to New York City to further my vocal career. 

I am participating in Belvedere Singing Competition because it is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world and has an outstanding reputation. 

My goal is to show my vocal ability and my talent as an artist to the respectable jury and to succeed. This competition gives me the chance to achieve my most desirable dream to perform on stage among the greatest artists, advance my career, and to stay loyal to one of the most exquisite forms of artistic expression which I absolutely adore- music. 

Thank you,

Tatiana Poletskaya, Soprano, Russia

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Mikhail Yanenko

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My name is Mikhail Yanenko. I am a Russian tenor from Moscow. I went to Gnessin State Music College and then got my Master of Art at Gnessin Acamedy of Music. 

I am excited to participate in Belvedere Singing Competition and to express my talent to the wonderful jury and to the audience. 

This challenge will help me to improve myself as an artist to achieve my utmost important aim to become a worldwide known opera singer. 

Sincerely,

Mikhail Yanenko, Tenor, Russia

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson

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Hi, I am Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson, a soprano from Newcastle upon Tyne UK taking part in the 2014 International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. 

I'm really looking forward to singing in Düsseldorf, and will hopefully gain some great exposure!

Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson, Soprano, United Kingdom

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Uliana Alieksiuk

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Hi, 

I am Uliana Alieksiuk from Ukraine, I will sing first round in Houston.

Uliana Alieksiuk, Soprano, Ukraine

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Irina Sherstneva

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My name is Irina Sherstneva. I'm from Russia. Type of my voice is a lyric soprano.


Belvedere Singing Competition is one of the most famous competitions in the world. To take part in competition of such level is a great honor for novice singer. Belvedere Competition gives opportunity to opera singers to reveal their talent in front of a refined European audience. Any competition is an ordeal for singer, which helps him to rise to the next stage of his skill. I hope that Belvedere will give me a lot of wonderful emotions and will become a good beginning of my opera career.

My dream is to become a good singer. I want to comprehend the secrets, which are incorporated in the works of great composers and to interpret them in the best way. I want to bring joy to people by my performances.

I wish good luck and inspiration to all participants of the Belvedere Singing Competition.

Best regards
Irina Sherstneva, Soprano, Russia

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Hayk Tonguryan

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Hello Belvedere! I am Hayk Tonguryan Armenian tenor. I study at Comitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. 

I am participating in "Belvedere competition" because it is a great competition. I chose to take part in the Belvedere Singing Competition, it being a great opportunity to measure my singing with that of the best talents in the world. I’ll never stop singing because music is one of the greatest values gifted for humanity. I am sure it will be an enriching experience for me as a singer. I am working hard to fulfill that dream of becoming a great artist.

Best regards,
Hayk Tonguryan, Tenor, Armenia

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Steponas Zonys

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Hello my name is Steponas Zonys. I am from Lithuania. I study at Klaipeda University arts faculty. At this moment its my second year of bachelor studies.

I am participating in "Belvedere competition" because it is a great competition for beginners to sign a contract and etc. and also to meet other wonderful singers from other countries

I want to sing in many opera houses, concert halls. I love when people are happy when I sing to them. Its very good feeling. Also I want to sing in the best opera houses like (Covent Garden, Metropolitan, Alla Scala etc.)

I also will sing in "Belvedere competition" finals. I will sing more Russian repertoire. Tchaikovsky music is very delicate and now I am practising more of interpretation, not only technically. 

Best regards,

Steponas Zonys, Baritone, Lithuania

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Jiuchen Li

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Hello Belvedere, my name is Jiuchen Li and I am a Bass from China(VR).I'm looking forward to the tournament in Germany. I am sure it will be an enriching experience for me as a singer, and I am excited ,because this is the biggest game I participated in.Music is my passion and I hope that I can transmit that to you through my singing.

I chose to take part in the Belvedere Singing Competition, it being a great opportunity to measure my singing with that of the best talents in the world. I can additionally learn a lot from the experience of singing in front of such a highly prestigious jury.

My most ardent desire is to live a life filled with music, and be able to move people with my singing. I dream of a career on stage, and I am working hard to fulfil that dream of becoming a great artist.

I am looking forward meeting you all there.

Bisous

Jiuchen Li, Bass, China

Qualifying Round at Akademia Muzyczna im. Stanisława Moniuszki in Gdansk, Poland, on 12 April

It was the first time that the Belvedere Singing Competition organizes a qualifying round in Gdansk, Poland. 

13 singers had applied, two of them qualified for the Final Rounds at the Deutsche Opera am Rhein in Düsseldorf: Soprano Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk and Baritone Lukasz Motkowicz. 

Congratulations especially to this two singers, but to all participants as well. 

Thanks to Prof. Bożena Harasimowicz for her great organization, thanks to the jury and to the Akademia Muzyczna im. Stanisława Moniuszki for their concert hall.

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Lisa Algozzini

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My name is Lisa Algozzini and I am an Italian American soprano from Los Angeles living in Vienna. The Belvedere Singing Competition gives me the chance to be heard by top opera professionals, and that is so valuable for singers on the brink of their careers.

I am so passionate about opera, so my goal is to always connect with my audience by completely transforming into the roles I perform. I have had the amazing opportunity to work with wonderful people during my training like Renata Scotto, Dolora Zajick, Plácido Domingo and Julius Rudel as well as attending institutions like The Juilliard School and the Aspen Music Festival. These experiences have allowed me to develop into an artist that has the technical skills to follow opera's rich traditions while also being a strong performer.

Lisa Algozzini, Soprano, USA

Qualifying Round at Semperoper Dresden, Germany, on April 04, 2014

Photo © Evi Stangl

Isabella Gabor, General Management Belvedere Singing Competition, and Björn Peters, Künstlerischer Betriebsdirektor Semperoper Dresden, are discussing the singers. 
Congratulations to Gala EL Hadidi and Norma Nahoun, who qualified for the Final Rounds at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. 

Qualifying Round at Webster University, USA, Moore Auditorium on April 05, 2014

Photo made available by Jeffrey R. Carter

Short Message by our partner Jeffrey R. Carter: "After robust discussion, the judges have sent forward Leann Schuering for the next round. In the photo, Schuering is second from the right.
All the best, Jeff“ 
On the photo: Eleanora Benedict, Leann Schuering and Elise Kennedy.

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Nico Darmanin

Photo made available by the singer

Hi,

I'm Nico Darmanin a tenor born in the heart of the Mediterranean - Malta. I've heard of the Belvedere Singing Competition since I started my classical training and have always wishes to participate once I felt ready to do so! 

One of my idols Joseph Calleja was a winner of this competition years ago and today is one of the leading tenors in the world who is also Maltese.

I wish to sing because my voice is the instrument I know best how to communicate with. I wish to make music with others and hopefully move audiences with my interpretations. I hope to achieve and be one of the best in the interpretation of Rossini and Mozartian repertoire.

I'm very much excited to take part in this prestigious competition!

Nico Darmanin, Tenor, Malta

Qualifying Round at Artscape Theatre, Cape Town, South Africa

#Belvedere2014: South Africans Linda Nteleza, Owen Metsileng and Siyabulela Ntlale are qualified at the Cape Town Opera successfully for the Final Rounds at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. Congratulations!