The 16th International Competition for Young Instrumentalists and Vocalists "Rising Stars" took place in Riga from February 28 to March 2, organized by the "International Talent Center" and the world-renowned musicologist, violinist, educator, and enlightener Mikhail Kazinik (Sweden).
For two days, young talents performed before an international jury, presenting their numbers in the categories of "Classical Music" and "Academic Vocal." This year, the jury, chaired by Mikhail Kazinik, included famous musicians, artists, and educators from different countries (in alphabetical order): music historian and ethnomusicologist Boris Avramec (Latvia), actor and director Rustem Galich (USA), opera singer Vlada Kitova (Latvia), opera singer Anastasia Lebedyantseva (Latvia), winner of the first "Rising Stars" competition, violinist Dainis Medjanik (Germany), pianist Daniil Mitskevich (Latvia), pianist Roman Testelec (Latvia), violinist and educator Evgenia Epstein (Croatia).
The jury faced a tough challenge, as this year's competition gathered an exceptional constellation of talents, making it very difficult to choose the best. However, the names of the laureates have been announced, and five participants were awarded the grand prix!
The awards of the "Rising Stars 2026" competition were distributed as follows:
Grand Prix (juniors): Elfa Leiniiece, Max Puzirev, Erik Hagi.
Grand Prix (seniors): Laura Barkovska, Anete Duntava.
1st place (junior instrumentalists): Katarina Radenstock, Ksenia Rud, Robert Ondrey, Elisei Bashkirov, Kira Romenova.
1st place (senior instrumentalists): Sofia Ivakhnova, Reinis Grundulis, Maria Mashkova, Anna Arsenyeva.
2nd place (junior instrumentalists): Anna Karpova, Mila Golubeva, Sofia Polishchuk.
2nd place (senior instrumentalists): Daria Markova, Ilya Kupriyan Testelec, Alina Brovkina, Dzhayana Lu.
3rd place (junior instrumentalists): Nicolas Smirnovs, Katsyarana Khudovich, Justine Sproge, Adriana Portnaya.
Senior vocalists: 1st place - Elza Elize Vilyumson, 2nd place - Ekaterina Beldeya, 3rd place - Isabella Rubule and Elizabete Katrina Elerte.
The laureates of the "Rising Stars" competition will receive awards and grants from the "International Talent Center," monetary grants from the charity fund "VIVAT FUTURE," individual master classes with jury members, performances at the gala concert with jury members of the competition, an invitation to participate in the "Nelly Shkolnikova Summer Academy" in France, as well as the opportunity to represent their country at the World Championship of Performing Arts in the USA, which will take place in Las Vegas from July 12 to 22, 2026.
The competition was traditionally accompanied by bright cultural events - performances and concerts that not only opened doors to the wonderful world of classical music but also brought pleasant surprises for the audience.
On February 28, the audience applauded the maestro Mikhail Kazinik, whose concert-lecture "Antidepressants in Music and Literature" featuring actor Rustem Galich (USA), violinist Dainis Medjanik (Germany), and pianist Daniil Mitskevich (Latvia) became a true fireworks of joy and unique emotions. 
On March 1, at the chamber music evening at the Small Guild, young musicians - violinist Dainis Medjanik (Germany) and pianist Aurelia Shimkus (Latvia) amazed the audience with their talent, energy, and charisma. A surprise awaited the guests in the second part - the audience was presented with a book by the famous Riga poet Andrei Korsarov titled "Poems and Corsairs." And it was not just a presentation, but a real mini-performance that was born during the competition: the author's poems were read by actor Rustem Galich, while musical numbers performed by violinist Dainis Medjanik and pianist Inguna Grinberga complemented the atmosphere.
The "Rising Stars" competition concluded with a traditional gala concert held on March 2 in the Great Hall of the Riga Jewish Community. This event invariably gathers a full house and delights the audience.
Not only the laureates of the competition take the stage, but also jury members, each of whom is a bright personality and a renowned musician, but who also once experienced being a competitor and emerged victorious, thus serving as a vivid example for beginning colleagues. The brilliant conclusion of the gala concert was the "Toy Symphony" by Leopold Mozart, performed by the festival orchestra under the direction of conductor Arturs Gailis and respected soloists - legendary double bassist Grigory Kovalevsky, leading actor of the Riga Russian Theatre named after Mikhail Chekhov Yakov Rafalson, and the chairman of the jury Mikhail Kazinik. The children's toys - rattles and "squeakers" - in the hands of the maestros delighted the audience, and the performance as a whole once again confirmed that music has been, is, and remains the best antidepressant in the world.
The "Rising Stars" competition, held in Riga for the 16th consecutive time, is not only a unique opportunity for young musicians to break into the big stage but also an event with an unparalleled atmosphere. "Here, children are treated in a special way - with respect for their inner world, with delicacy and attention to each performance. There is not just a professional assessment, but sincere support, a desire to inspire and help them blossom. We leave with a sense of gratitude, upliftment, and faith in new heights," says music educator from Estonia Vladimir Lyutov, whose students participated in the competition this year.
