Folk pop song studio "Tandem" conquers new heights

The XXV National Festival of Belarusian Song and Poetry "Maladzechna-2026" has become the starting point of a new creative level for the Tandem pop song studio. The first half of the year turned out to be really eventful for the team: national-scale events followed one another, like notes in a fast-paced melody. But it was the festival in Molodechno that became the stage where Ekaterina Dyakova, the soloist of the folk group, a student of Vitebsk State Medical University, under the guidance of her mentor Ekaterina Palagot, made a serious bid for the status of a large-scale performer.

The path to the finals was not easy and required not only vocal talent, but also a real character. Katya passed the qualifying stages with confidence, where the best were selected from hundreds of applications. And here she is among the twenty finalists from all over the republic. Among them are students of specialized music institutions, for whom the stage is a future profession. But even in this environment, our student did not go unnoticed.

The competition set certain conditions: each of the two songs must be exclusively in the Belarusian language and be written by Russian composers. Katya was to perform one of the compositions, the soulful and bright song "Cranes Come", written by the famous composer Elena Atrashkevich, accompanied by the Mikhail Finberg National Academic Concert Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus under the baton of the renowned conductor Maxim Rassokha.

Ekaterina Dyakova, the soloist of the Tandem studio, still remembers those moments with trepidation.:

– To be honest, I've never felt such excitement before. It grows with every hour that brings you closer to going on stage, and by the time you get backstage, it reaches its peak – just a tremendous tension! – the girl admits. – But the most amazing thing happens the moment you step onto the stage. As soon as the music starts, as soon as the orchestra enters, all this inner tension goes away. It's just you, the song, and this incredible dialogue with the audience.

Katya notes that the experience of performing with an orchestra of this level is a special page in her creative biography.:

– It was a completely new feeling, because performing on the same stage with top-class professionals is very exciting. And live music, unlike phonograms, has its own soul, its own life. By the way, we specially came to Minsk for a rehearsal the day before to "feel out" this sound, to get used to its depth.

Ekaterina Palagot, the head of the Tandem studio, closely followed every step of her pupil. When asked why Katya was chosen for such a responsible competition, she answers without a shadow of doubt.:

– Katya is our strong soloist. Today, she is one of the most prepared girls in the team. When we were considering candidates to apply for this serious competition, she was the one chosen, and she brilliantly confirmed our choice by going through all the selection stages," says Ekaterina Palagot.

Evaluating the performance from a professional point of view, the manager does not hide his pride, but remains demanding and objective.:

– I think Katya performed very well. She proved that we have a high level of training, that we can compete at the highest level. Yes, it's possible that not everything worked out the way we planned – our performing skills know no bounds, and we certainly have a lot to grow. But she's doing great. She fought to the last note, tried to cope with the enormous pressure exerted by the big stage, worked with the orchestra, kept the image. Of course, the competition was crazy. Almost all the participants are future professionals for whom music is their life. Perhaps it was psychologically oppressive, perhaps it affected her mood, but Katya pulled herself together and did everything she could. I am happy with the result.

Ekaterina Palagot has her own small but important ritual before the performer goes on stage:

– Backstage, before the curtain opens, I always say one phrase.: "I believe in you, you can do anything." This is probably the most important thing an artist can hear at the moment when his heart is ready to jump out of his chest. Knowing that someone believes in you unconditionally gives you confidence and strength.

Speaking of a successful performance, one cannot ignore the visual component. Katya appeared on stage in a magnificent costume, which became a full-fledged part of the artistic image.

– I want to say a huge thank you to our rector Alexey Chukanov and the entire university administration. Without their understanding and support, without their approval and financial participation, we would not have been able to show on stage the splendor that the audience saw. It was thanks to the attention of the administration that we managed to sew these costumes – incredibly beautiful, perfectly matched to the image," says Ekaterina Palagot. – When an artist comes out in an outfit thought out to the smallest detail, the song will play in a completely new way, even brighter, even more piercing.

After such success, Tandem Studio's plans are only getting bigger. Ekaterina Palagot enthusiastically shares her creative ambitions:

– As a teacher, I have dreams. And I really hope that Katya will help me make them happen. We are already thinking about trying our hand at the Slavyansky Bazar festival in a year. This is a completely different level, new challenges. And, of course, we want to take another swing at Molodechno next year. Our university has smart, motivated students who are able to combine serious studies and an intense creative life.

Ekaterina Dyakova herself looks to the future with optimism and gratitude for the experience.

– For me, participation in such contests and creativity in general gives new colors, emotions and impressions. I've always felt like a creative person, and when I entered medical university, I knew for sure that I just couldn't do it without this emotional boost. I need it like air," Katya shares. – Such contests are also an opportunity to prove yourself.: "I can!" I can participate, I can fight, I can show results. Plus, it's an incredible social circle. You get to know guys from all over the country who also live by music. They are high-level professionals, but at the same time they are surprisingly open, sincere, and always ready to share their experiences. We are expanding our horizons, declaring ourselves and our university.

When you ask Katya if her creative victories in her studies help her, she thinks about it, but finds an accurate and wise answer.:

– This is a difficult question, but I will answer this way: creative victories do not directly help in studies. But they create the very inner state that allows you to cope with difficulties. When you go on stage, you overcome your fear, get a boost of adrenaline and recognition – you feel stronger. This state of harmony inside makes you more confident in any life situation. And this positive attitude, inner confidence, it flows into studies. This is the very balance that helps me keep up with both medical science and music.

The Tandem pop song Studio once again demonstrates that talent has no professional boundaries. A medical university student is conquering the musical Olympus today, and judging by the mood of the band, this is only the first chord in a great symphony of their success. There are large-scale projects ahead, new achievements, and, of course, a new academic year, which they will enter with a baggage of bright creative victories and a desire to move forward.