Russian Poetry Recital Contest 2025
Date: Saturday April 12, 2025
Time: 11am - 2pm
Where: Schenectady County Public Library
99 Clinton Street Schenectady, NY 12305
The Contest showcases talent in the art of reciting Russian poetry fostering creativity and linguistic expression. With diverse age levels and divisions, the contest offers an incredible platform for both native and non-native speakers to enhance their public speaking skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the art of recitation.
There will be 2 divisions: Native Russian Speakers and Non-Native Speakers. The recitation will be evaluated by esteemed judges who have expertise in Russian literature and poetry. Participants will be evaluated based on their recitation skills, expression, and interpretation, with exciting prizes awaiting the winners.
Registration is now open. Application form and flyer.
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 Russia 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 Russian.
Learn Russian language through a poem! Two Divisions: Native Russian Speakers and Non-Native Speakers. “Native speakers” are contestants who use Russian language at home. “Non-native speakers” refers to contestants whose home language is other than Russian language. The winners will be determined by a panel of three judges.
The Winners of the Russian Poetry Recital Contest 2025!
Native Speakers (14 years and up)
Ana Horning - 1st place
Robert Willard - 2nd place
Luba Michailova - 3rd place
Non-Native Speakers (14 years and up)
Carson Walker - 1 st place
Paul Marr - 2nd place
Joe Mechino - 3rd place
The Winners of the Russian Poetry Recital Contest 2024!
Native Speakers (14 years and up)
Alik Verba - 1st place
Polina Smirnova - 1st place
Marina Taborovskaya - 2nd place
Rita Rutina - 2nd place
Irina Bondar - 3rd place
Alexander Lutsevich - 3rd place
Non-Native Speakers (14 years and up)
Carson Walker - 1 st place
Paul Marr - 2nd place
John Rehueser - 3rd place
The Winners of the Slavic Poetry Recital Contest 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
Big thanks our puppeteers for a great show “Birthday Present for a Squirrel"!
Konstantin Lutsevich
Polina Smirnova
Tatiana Stepanets
Maria Rubtsova Maria 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 Winners of the Poetry Recital Contest 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 Contest 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
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Russian Poetry Recital Contest 2025
Date: Saturday April 12, 2025
Time: 11am - 2pm
Where: Schenectady County Public Library
99 Clinton Street Schenectady, NY 12305
There will be 2 divisions: Native Russian Speakers and Non-Native Speakers. The recitation will be evaluated by esteemed judges who have expertise in Russian literature and poetry. Participants will be evaluated based on their recitation skills, expression, and interpretation, with exciting prizes awaiting the winners.
Registration is now open. Application form and flyer.
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 Russia 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 Russian.
Learn Russian language through a poem! Two Divisions: Native Russian Speakers and Non-Native Speakers. “Native speakers” are contestants who use Russian language at home. “Non-native speakers” refers to contestants whose home language is other than Russian language. The winners will be determined by a panel of three judges.
The Winners of the Russian Poetry Recital Contest 2025!
Ana Horning - 1st place
Robert Willard - 2nd place
Luba Michailova - 3rd place
Non-Native Speakers (14 years and up)
Carson Walker - 1 st place
Paul Marr - 2nd place
Joe Mechino - 3rd place
The Winners of the Russian Poetry Recital Contest 2024!
Alik Verba - 1st place
Polina Smirnova - 1st place
Marina Taborovskaya - 2nd place
Rita Rutina - 2nd place
Irina Bondar - 3rd place
Alexander Lutsevich - 3rd place
Non-Native Speakers (14 years and up)
Carson Walker - 1 st place
Paul Marr - 2nd place
John Rehueser - 3rd place
The Winners of the Slavic Poetry Recital Contest 2023!
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
Konstantin Lutsevich
Polina Smirnova
Tatiana Stepanets
Maria Rubtsova Maria 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 Winners of the Poetry Recital Contest 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 Contest 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