Young people from three higher education institutions of Sumy: SNAU, Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko and Sumy State University – competed in the battle of student choirs “Voice Vibe 2024” on the stage of the youth center “Romantika” of the Sumy City Council.
To participate in the competition, the students had to prepare three performances: a Ukrainian hit, an a cappella performance (without musical accompaniment), and a foreign European hit.
The jury members include some of the most talented figures in Sumy. Among them were Tetiana NIANKINA, actress, director, ideologist of the founding of the amateur theater of people with disabilities “We Are” and the “Niankins” theater, and Svitlana YURCHENKO, director of the Romantika Cultural Center of the AUC. The performances were also evaluated by Yevhen KONDAKOV, head of the orchestra of the Main Department of the National Police of Sumy Oblast, Tetiana SENCHYSHCHEVA, head of the Youth Policy Department of Sumy City Council, and Asya SNITKO, an artist of the Luhansk Ukrainian Theater, author and performer of songs, winner of international competitions, and participant of the X Factor. The youth were judged on several criteria: vocal art, stage art, appearance and performance.
So, an exciting moment! Agrarvardians are on stage! The audience and the jury are holding their breath… The show is about to begin!
15 singers and all of them dressed as the best and fairest women of the village! They are “just queens and goddesses”, even when they fetch water from the well and chop wood! Red cheeks, colorful scarves and embroidered shirts – SNAU students played the Lisapentiy Battalion band with the song “Sama fayna” during the Ukrainian Song performance.
They were surprised by the use of ancient instruments: dams, wooden spoons – during the performance of “A Capella Song.” Performing the Ukrainian folk song “I Had a Steam Engine,” the SNAU youth, along with the jury and the audience, plunged into the atmosphere of the countryside and sonorous singing.
The third number was a real acting performance! Just imagine: the students have passed their exams and are leaving their home university in a giant jeep with SNAU license plates. The atmosphere is that of the 80s and 90s. The guys are wearing themed costumes, and the girls are wearing cabaret-style dresses decorated with feathers and pearl necklaces. The crowd turns on the radio, gets out of the car, and runs off into the sunset to La Bouche’s “Be My Lover.”
Of course, the jury members highly appreciated the performances of the NAU representatives. In particular, the gratitude for the fruitful work, talent and support of the youth vibe was presented to Marina ROMANENKO, the head of the Struna club at Sumy NAU, who rehearsed daily, helped each participant, and together with the student activists looked for costumes and musical instruments. The efforts paid off – the young people of the Agrarian University won the Best Show nomination.
The student rector of SNAU, Diana DEREVIANCHENKO, also notes the incredible support of young people:
“We had the best support group. Students drew posters, shouted, sang along, and encouraged us. This competition definitely united us.”
