Poetry Recital Contest

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.

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

Children contestants 2017