Ukraine’s national broadcaster have revealed that they received a record 309 submissions for their Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 entry.
Suspilne Ukraine (formerly UA:PBC) opened submissions from June 3 to July 5, receiving 272 solo submissions and 37 from duos or groups. The broadcaster will narrow this down to a shortlist of just 15 contestants, who will be announced by July 25. Those who make the shortlist will take part in the summer “star school”, where they will work with music industry professionals who will guide them in workshops on vocals, choreography and acting to “comprehensively develop their talents”. At the conclusion of the star school, six of them will be selected to take on the national final, a televised concert that will take place in September.
Svitlana Tarabarova, the music producer for Ukraine’s national selection event, was highly emotional about the high level of interest, saying, “48 hours of happiness, joy, interesting discoveries and unexpected moments. Sometimes shock, sometimes admiration, but always about music, always about love. This is how my last two days of selection and review of a record 309 applications for us went. Goosebumps in anticipation of the achievements that await our children ahead.”
This year’s selection process required the submission of two covers and a personal video, but 19% of applicants also submitted original compositions for consideration. Tarabarova and songwriter Yevhen Triplov will be responsible for composing original songs for the six finalists to perform at the national final. The eventual winner will hit the stage of the Caja Mágica in Madrid on November 16th, when Spain hosts their first JESC, and their first Eurovision event since 1969.
Ukraine was represented at Junior Eurovision 2023 by Anastasia Dymyd, with the song “Kvitka”, written and composed by Tarabarova. Dymyd achieved 5th place, Ukraine’s best result since 2018, with a score of 128 points.
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