Slavic Poetry Recital Contest 2023
When: Sunday, April 2, 2023
Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Where: Russian Orthodox Community Center
617 Sand Creek Rd, Albany, NY 12205

Congratulations to the Winners 2023!
3 - 6 years old level
Eva Pavlenko - 1st place
Maria Lutsevich - 2nd place
Artur Dmitrievr - 3rd place
7 - 9 years old level
Ernest Dmitriev - 1st place
Nina Lutsevich - 2nd place
Jacob Ahlers- 3rd place
10 - 13 years old level
Aleksander Pavlenko - 1st place
Maria Rutsova - 2nd place
Konstantin Lutsevich - 3rd place
Sofia Tobi - 3rd place
14 and Up
Esfir Dolginova - 1st place
Aleksander Lutsevich - 2nd place
Fr. Alexis - 3rd place
We are supremely grateful for the time and support our judges have so generously given to the Tchaikovsky Piano Competiton 2023 - Timothy Sergay, Marina Vaysberg, and Irina Holden.
Timothy Sergay is a translator and associate professor of Russian at SUNY Albany, where he has worked since 2007. At SUNYAlbany he directs the Russian minor and teaches introductory courses in Russian language and literature, contemporary Russia, and Russian and Soviet film. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He has studied Russian as a foreign language at the University of Michigan.
Marina Vaysberg is an adjunct professor of Russian language at Union College and a librarian at Saint Rose College. She is a former director of local Russian Children's Theater Troupe. Marina have been judging Russian Olympiad at SUNY Albany.
Irina Holden is a Subject Librarian for Russian and Slavic Studies at SUNY Albany. At SUNY she also teaches courses on Information Literacy in Mathematics and Statistics. Ms. Holden is a native of Ukraine. She speaks Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. Irina have been judging Russian Olympiad at SUNY Albany.
Big thanks our puppeteers for a great show “Birthday Present for a Squirrel"!
Konstantin Lutsevich
Polina Smirnova
Tatiana Stepanets
Maria Rubtsova
Marian Lutsevich
Olga Zvezdina
Thanks to our artisans Natalia Savinova,Tatiana Stepanets and Olga Zvezdina for making beautifully designed hand puppets! A huge thanks to Tatiana Stepanets for a puppet stage design and execution, props and hanging decorations.
The aim of the Contest is to revive children's interests in reciting poetry in public.
Participation in the Poetry Recital Contest can be a very rewarding experience for local students who love poetry. The Contest is dedicated to strengthening local communities through the art of Slavic poetry. The contest emphasizes the pleasure of reciting poems. There are numerous benefits to poetry recitals. Children have gained experience of standing and speaking in front of a group, building confidence, and overcoming shyness. Theydevelop public speaking ability. Recitation is the easiest way for children to do some public speaking. It cultivates writing skills. As children memorize well-written poems, they are storing in their minds templates and models of excellent writing which will serve them as they write themselves.
The contest is open to children and adults.
Contestants will recite one poem of their choice in any of Slavic languages, such as Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian. Three age Levels: 3-6 years of age, 7-12 years of age, 13 and up.
Learn Slavic language through a poem! Two Divisions: Native Slavic Speakers and Non-Native Slavic Speakers. “Native speakers” are contestants who use any of Slavic language at home. “Non-native speakers” refers to contestants whose home language is other than Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian. The winners will be determined by a panel of three judges.
Certificates of participation! The Prizes will be awarded!
The registration deadline is March 2 2023. Email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Winners will perform at the All Winners Concert on April 8 2023 at 1:00pm.
Share the Contest's Flyer. To download the Registration form clik here.
During the intermission a puppet show “Birthday Present for a Squirrel" .
The Winners of the Poetry Recital Conest 2020!
Native Speakers Young Children Level
Nina Lutsevich -1st place
Ernest Dmitriev - 2nd place
Andrey Bolotnikov -3rd place
Non-Native Speakers Children Level
Holly VanValkenburgh - 1st place
Gabriel Robinson - 2nd place
Samantha VanValkenburgh - 3rd place
Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Alik Verba - 1st place
Mikhail Militarev - 2nd place
Rita Rutina - 3rd place
Not-Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Brad Hawkins - 1st place
Joe Meschino - 2nd place
Robert Keesee - 3rd place
The Winners of the Poetry Recital Conest 2019!

Native Speakers Young Level (3-6years) Nicole Katsouba - 1st place Marina Timofeeva - 1st place
Vera Korableva - 2nd place
Andrey Bolotnikov -2nd place
Lesana Teslenko - 3rd place
Andrey Bolotnikov -3rd place
Junior Level (7-12)
Maxim Bolotnikov - 1st place
Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Alik Verba - 1 st place
Rita Rutina - 2nd place
Sophia Shalashova - 3rd place
Not-Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Brad Hawkins - 1st place
Joe Meschino - 2nd place
Paul Marr - 3rd place
Ths Winners of the Poetry Recital Contest 2018!
Native Speakers Division, 3-6 yrs.:
1st place: Maxim Bolotnikov, Lesana Teslenko
2nd place: Fyodor Lobastov and Vera Korableva
3rd place: Daniel, Benjamin and Jeremy Epstein
Native Speakers Division,13 yrs. and older:
1st place Igor Epshtein and Dennis Howard
2nd place: Alik Verba and Rita Rutina
3rd place: Tatiana Stepanets and Tatiana Deptola
Non-Native Speakers Division, 13 yrs. and older:
1st place: Joe Meschino*
2nd place: Nazeer Sarwar
3rd: Marisa Dreibelbis
Children contestants 2017

Congratulations to the Winners 2023!
3 - 6 years old level
Eva Pavlenko - 1st place
Maria Lutsevich - 2nd place
Artur Dmitrievr - 3rd place
7 - 9 years old level
Ernest Dmitriev - 1st place
Nina Lutsevich - 2nd place
Jacob Ahlers- 3rd place
10 - 13 years old level
Aleksander Pavlenko - 1st place
Maria Rutsova - 2nd place
Konstantin Lutsevich - 3rd place
Sofia Tobi - 3rd place
14 and Up
Esfir Dolginova - 1st place
Aleksander Lutsevich - 2nd place
Fr. Alexis - 3rd place
We are supremely grateful for the time and support our judges have so generously given to the Tchaikovsky Piano Competiton 2023 - Timothy Sergay, Marina Vaysberg, and Irina Holden.
Timothy Sergay is a translator and associate professor of Russian at SUNY Albany, where he has worked since 2007. At SUNYAlbany he directs the Russian minor and teaches introductory courses in Russian language and literature, contemporary Russia, and Russian and Soviet film. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He has studied Russian as a foreign language at the University of Michigan.
Marina Vaysberg is an adjunct professor of Russian language at Union College and a librarian at Saint Rose College. She is a former director of local Russian Children's Theater Troupe. Marina have been judging Russian Olympiad at SUNY Albany.
Irina Holden is a Subject Librarian for Russian and Slavic Studies at SUNY Albany. At SUNY she also teaches courses on Information Literacy in Mathematics and Statistics. Ms. Holden is a native of Ukraine. She speaks Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. Irina have been judging Russian Olympiad at SUNY Albany.
Konstantin Lutsevich
Polina Smirnova
Tatiana Stepanets
Maria Rubtsova
Marian Lutsevich
Olga Zvezdina
Thanks to our artisans Natalia Savinova,Tatiana Stepanets and Olga Zvezdina for making beautifully designed hand puppets! A huge thanks to Tatiana Stepanets for a puppet stage design and execution, props and hanging decorations.
The aim of the Contest is to revive children's interests in reciting poetry in public.
Participation in the Poetry Recital Contest can be a very rewarding experience for local students who love poetry. The Contest is dedicated to strengthening local communities through the art of Slavic poetry. The contest emphasizes the pleasure of reciting poems. There are numerous benefits to poetry recitals. Children have gained experience of standing and speaking in front of a group, building confidence, and overcoming shyness. Theydevelop public speaking ability. Recitation is the easiest way for children to do some public speaking. It cultivates writing skills. As children memorize well-written poems, they are storing in their minds templates and models of excellent writing which will serve them as they write themselves.
The contest is open to children and adults.
Contestants will recite one poem of their choice in any of Slavic languages, such as Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian. Three age Levels: 3-6 years of age, 7-12 years of age, 13 and up.
Learn Slavic language through a poem! Two Divisions: Native Slavic Speakers and Non-Native Slavic Speakers. “Native speakers” are contestants who use any of Slavic language at home. “Non-native speakers” refers to contestants whose home language is other than Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian. The winners will be determined by a panel of three judges.
Certificates of participation! The Prizes will be awarded!
The registration deadline is March 2 2023. Email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Winners will perform at the All Winners Concert on April 8 2023 at 1:00pm.
Share the Contest's Flyer. To download the Registration form clik here.
During the intermission a puppet show “Birthday Present for a Squirrel" .
The Winners of the Poetry Recital Conest 2020!
Native Speakers Young Children Level
Nina Lutsevich -1st place
Ernest Dmitriev - 2nd place
Andrey Bolotnikov -3rd place
Non-Native Speakers Children Level
Holly VanValkenburgh - 1st place
Gabriel Robinson - 2nd place
Samantha VanValkenburgh - 3rd place
Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Alik Verba - 1st place
Mikhail Militarev - 2nd place
Rita Rutina - 3rd place
Not-Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Brad Hawkins - 1st place
Joe Meschino - 2nd place
Robert Keesee - 3rd place
The Winners of the Poetry Recital Conest 2019!
Nicole Katsouba - 1st place
Marina Timofeeva - 1st place
Vera Korableva - 2nd place
Andrey Bolotnikov -2nd place
Lesana Teslenko - 3rd place
Andrey Bolotnikov -3rd place
Junior Level (7-12)
Maxim Bolotnikov - 1st place
Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Alik Verba - 1 st place
Rita Rutina - 2nd place
Sophia Shalashova - 3rd place
Not-Native Speakers Senior Level (13 and Up)
Brad Hawkins - 1st place
Joe Meschino - 2nd place
Paul Marr - 3rd place
1st place: Maxim Bolotnikov, Lesana Teslenko
2nd place: Fyodor Lobastov and Vera Korableva
3rd place: Daniel, Benjamin and Jeremy Epstein
Native Speakers Division,13 yrs. and older:
1st place Igor Epshtein and Dennis Howard
2nd place: Alik Verba and Rita Rutina
3rd place: Tatiana Stepanets and Tatiana Deptola
1st place: Joe Meschino*
2nd place: Nazeer Sarwar
3rd: Marisa Dreibelbis
Children contestants 2017