Dimash Kudaibergen of Kazakhstan wins Vitebsk 2015 Grand Prix

Dimash Kudaibergen of Kazakhstan has won the Grand Prix of the 24th International Festival of Arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk.

He was presented with the Grand Prix ($20,000) and the special award Lira on the stage of the Summer Amphitheater on 13 July.

Dimash was considered a favorite starting from the semifinal. He scored the highest 175 points in two days of the final. Fellow Kazakhstani Luiza Nurkuatova collected the Grand Prix of the 13th International Children's Music Contest Vitebsk 2015.

In his speech the President of Belarus wished all the contestants to use this success on the Vitebsk stage as the stepping stone towards wider recognition and expressed hope that the names of these young singers would once beautify the Walk of Fame near the Summer Amphitheater. “A victory in such a competition means ambition, bright talent and strong character,” the head of state noted.

The first award ($15,000), a special award and a diploma of the prize holder went to Belarus' Valeria Gribusova. She and Russia's Sofia Muratova got the special award of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

The second award ($10,000) went to Nikolai Manolov of Bulgaria. He also got a special award and a diploma of the prize holder.

Anna Tverdostup (Anitt) of Ukraine and Sofi from Georgia picked up the third award ($5,000). Besides, the Ukrainian got a special Award of the President of Belarus for Bright Performance of Slavonic Peoples' Songs. Macedonia's Nade Talevska was presented with a special award named after Vladimir Mulyavin for the best presentation of the national theme and high performing skills.

Partaking in the 24th International Song Contest Vitebsk 2015 were participants from 21 countries. On 10 July the international jury led by People's Artist of Azerbaijan Polad Bulbuloglu. selected 15 finalists that performed at the Summer Amphitheater on 11-12 July.