A student of VSMU, a participant of the folk pop song studio "Tandem", entered the top three in the selection for the Slavyansky Bazaar

On March 21, 2026, the final of the national selection for the XXXV International Pop Song Contest "Vitebsk" was held in Postavy, Belarus’s cultural capital for 2026. Ten of the best vocalists from across the country competed for the opportunity to perform on the legendary stage of Slavyansky Bazar.

Ekaterina Dyakova, a student at Vitebsk State Medical University and a future pharmacist, is among the finalists. Combining her studies at the pharmaceutical faculty of VSMU with classes at the folk pop song studio "Tandem" (led by Ekaterina Palagot), she managed to impress the strict jury.

The contest, broadcast live on Belarus 3 TV channel, was a significant challenge for the 19-year-old artist. Ekaterina Dyakova secured third place based on the total points scored.

After returning home, Ekaterina shared her impressions of participating in such a large-scale event:

"Bright. Colorful. Atmospheric. And, of course, very musical. I experienced incredible emotions from this amazing project—my first large-scale event for my creative activities. Traveling to the cultural capital of the year left me with a wealth of impressions, new experiences, and clear points for further creative and vocal growth.

Thank you to everyone who supported, worried, and cheered for me—both in the audience and on screens. Your support was incredibly energizing and gave me strength.

I want to especially thank my wonderful teacher, Ekaterina Palagot, head of our talented Tandem team. Without her belief in me and her tremendous efforts to prepare for this stage, I might never have had the confidence to participate in such a prestigious competition. Her support made all the difference."

We believe that Ekaterina has a bright future ahead, with great success and well-deserved recognition from the audience.