The All-Russian Festival of Performers of Modern Military Songs, "The Voice of the Front," concluded successfully in the city of Rostov-on-Don. The award ceremony took place in the picturesque "Levoberezhny" park, marking the end of a cultural event dedicated to the heroes defending our country. The festival was organized by the "Center for Media Strategies" under the leadership of Mark Bykov. The event has become a symbol of respect for those who bravely defend their country, and also an expression of unity among people who are ready to support their heroes.

“This year, the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives once again supported the competition, for which we are sincerely grateful. We began accepting applications two months ago. A total of approximately three thousand participants from across Russia took part. The age range was from 5-7 years old to 65 years old. An online jury selected 100 winners in the category of original songs, whom we have already invited to Rostov,” says Mark Bykov.

The participants included artists from the Luhansk People's Republic, Moscow, St. Petersburg, the North Caucasus region, the Southern Federal District, and even the Urals. "This year's participants were stronger than last year. This is normal and natural, because the festival develops every year. Last year was the first, this year is the second. I hope it will become a tradition. There will be a third, a fourth, and a tenth. It's wonderful that such events are now taking place," noted Honored Artist of Russia and chairman of the competition jury, Sergei Voytenko.

For a long time, Russians felt embarrassed by Western propaganda regarding their history, traditions, and culture. However, things are different now – people have freed themselves from this influence. They have returned to their roots. And they are ready to talk about it and, in some cases, even sing about it. "The works that are born in people come from the heart. Many lack a true love for their country and patriotism. Patriotism is not just a loud word; it is love for what surrounds you: your mother, father, family, loved ones, the birch tree in the yard, the village, fishing with friends, or mushroom picking with your grandmother," the artist comments.

It should be noted that Serbia distinguished itself in this competition. Journalist and director of the Belgrade media center "Russian Express," Goran Simpraga, was on the jury. His participation added an international dimension to the event and helped strengthen cultural ties between nations. "I believe that the finalists deserved their awards. Their work is especially important today, when the conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for almost three and a half years. It's as if they are saying: 'Hang in there, guys, we are with you, and victory will be ours.' They remind them that they have a reliable support system at home," emphasizes Simpraga. Each of the finalists shared the story of how they created their song. Many of them drew inspiration from the front lines or from hospitals, where they helped volunteers.

“When you understand that songs come from the heart, that they reflect life, they touch you deeply. Our competition is dedicated to modern military songs and is not a professional competition in the usual sense. It brings together people who love music, who feel and empathize with it. We evaluated emotions, determination, understanding of the situation, and the theme. What is happening in Ukraine has given rise to a new modern culture. This needs to be taken into account and developed," noted Asya Kompaniets, a member of the competition jury, partner, and head of the "Path of Glory – Our History" project.

Among the participants aged 18-35, Anna Lichotvorec was recognized as the best, followed by Anastasia Ivanova and Ekaterina Gladkikh. In the 36-50 age group, Alexander Sergeev was the strongest, with the team "Shooted City" taking silver and Georgy Tesli-Gerasimov winning bronze. Finally, in the 50+ category, the duet of Vladimir Andriyuk and Svetlana Stepkina took first place, Yevgeny Vaskin took second, and the duet of Aksinia Kramar and Alexander Prilutsky took third. We can confidently say that the event was held at a high level and demonstrated the diversity of talent and the professionalism of participants of all age groups.

euroazia.info