PetrSU Hosted French Songs Contest

On February 16 the French Language Resource Center of the Institute of Foreign Languages for the fourth time hosted the French Songs Contest. The contest was timed to coincide with the arrival of students of Lycee Jean Dautet, who had come here to take part in the International Language and Culture Camp.

People of all ages could choose any song to perform in the contest. The participants were divided into two categories: junior (under 16 years of age) and senior (over 16 years of age). The jury awarded the first three places in each category, as well as the Grand-Prix.

The jury included Konstantin Sergeychev, president of the jury, teacher of the French language of Saint Petersburg State University; Elena Veselova, teacher of the Department of Chamber Ensemble and Concertmastership of the Petrozavodsk State Conservatory, prize-winner of international contests; Jocelyne Compagnon, chairperson of the Friendship Society (La Rochelle); Wilfried Hildebrand, musician, composer, song-writer and performer (La Rochelle); Olga Veselovskaya, teacher of the French Language of the Department of the German and French Languages of the Institute of Foreign Languages of PetrSU.

Among the participants performing in the junior category were schoolchildren of the School No. 27 and Gymnasium No. 17, Private School of the city of Petrozavodsk, as well as the School No.8 of the city of Kondopoga. The senior group included PetrSU students who study the French language, as well as the employees of the Kizhi Open Air Museum who had prepared an original performance.

The winners are as follows:

The junior group:

·         1st place – Lidiya Vanag, a pupil of the Children’s Musical School No.1 (waltz from Anastasia animated film)

·         2nd place – Uliana Stepanova, a pupil of the Private School of the city of Petrozavodsk (La Seine from A Monster in Paris animated film)

·         3rd place was not awarded

The senior group:

·         1st place – Cherchez la femme, the vocal group of graduates of the Institute of Foreign Languages and members of the Friends of France Society (Bons baisers, a bientot, Yvette Giraud)

·         2nd place – a family duet of the 4th year student of the IFL Yevgeniya Zamskova and her father Valery Vladimirovich (Une vie d'amour, Charles Aznavour)

·         3rd place – Polina Basharova, the 3rd  year student of the Institute of History, Political and Social Sciences (Elle ne t'aime pas, La femme)

The Grand-Prix was unanimously awarded to Anastasia Smirnova, a pupil of the School No.8 of the city of Kondopoga, who performed Lara Fabian’s Je t'aime. Anastasia will perform the song once again as a participant of the finals of the Future of Russia award, which will take place in Moscow in April.

All winners received certificates and prizes.

The contest is support with the project “School Museum – the Meeting Place and Platform for Cooperation between Twin-Cities” implemented within the Agreement on Awarding the Presidential Grant for the development of civil society No. 19-1-016513 on behalf of the Karelian Resource Center of Non-governmental Organizations. The contest was held with the help of the Petrozavodsk non-governmental organization the Friends of France.