JESC 2018 | Kazakhstan National Finalists Announced
Back in July, Kazakh broadcaster Khabar Agency announced that associate EBU member Kazakhstan would be making their Eurovision debut this year in November at the 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest to be hosted in Minsk, Belarus. Plans for a National Final were quickly put in to motion and now even more details, including the line up of performers, have been revealed.
Khabar Agency have published the details about how their live National Final later this month on September 22nd will run. Ten finalists have been revealed, ranging in age from 11 to 14, who will all sing to the Kazakh public who will then be voting to decide who their 2018 Junior Eurovision representative will be. The ten finalists are:
Binura Saudabay [11 years old]
Daneliya Tuleshova [12 years old]
Dinar Nadirbekova [13 years old]
Maria Zatvarnitskaya [13 years old]
Meirzhan Zhidebai [12 years old]
Sanat Asuat [13 years old]
Suikum Kabylbek [12 years old]
Yerzhan Maxim [11 years old]
Zere Amirbekova [14 years old]
Zhanelya Kaldybek [12 years old]
Of this line up, viewers may be most familiar with Daneliya Tuleshova who is known across Eastern Europe as the winner of the fourth season of 'The Voice Kids Ukraine'. You can view her Knockout performance of Andra Day's 'Rise Up' below. Eleven year old Yerzhan Maxim is also a familiar name to some across Europe as he has performed both at the Junior version of Sanremo in Italy as well as on several Latvian TV appearances.
In adition to the ten finalists who will be competing to represent Kazakhstan, Khabar have also announced the members of the expert jury who will be used to break any ties that may occur when the public vote decides the winner. They are:
Azhibaev Alan Gazizovich – Panel Head
Aydarbekov Kairat Nurtasovich – Singer
Besbayev Meirambek – Singer
Gaysin Renat – Producer and composer
Esmakhan Erke – Singer
Tamara Asar – Singer
Mukhitdenova Bagym – Producer
Roza Rymbaeva – Singer
Madina Sadvakasova – Singer
Lilj Sultanzyzy – TV host and producer
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will take place in Minsk, Belarus on November 25th 2018 where we will find out which of the nineteen participating countries will take the crown.
Are you getting excited to see what Kazakhstan will bring to the Eurovision world? Do you have an early favourite amongst the finalists? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and make sure to connect with us on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube!
