The jury

Alexander RYBAK

Member of the International Jury of the XXIII International Pop Song Performers Contest “Vitebsk-2014”

Winner of the “Eurovision-2009” International Song Contest, singer, composer

Alexander Rybak was born on 13 May 1986 in Minsk (Belarus). His mother, a classical pianist, worked for the editorial board of music programs on Belarusian television. His father, a violinist, was a member of a music group in Vitebsk. His grandmother was a teacher of music at the Vitebsk Musical College.

Aged five, Alexander started his violin and piano studies. He attended a music school at the Belarusian State Academy of Music. He graduated from a music college in Nesodden, studied in a conservatory in Oslo (Norway).

In 2006, he won the young talent contest “Kjempesjansen” performing his own song “Foolin’.

Alexander is the winner of “Anders Jahres Culture-Award” (2004).

He takes part in charity concerts and events.

In 2009, Alexander Rybak was a jury member of the “New Voices of Belarus” contest (Minsk), went on tour to the cities of Russia, performed at the presentation of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games on the Red Square (Moscow, Russia).

In 2010, he took part in the music festival “Russian Romance” in Finland, performed at M.Tariverdiev commemoration night (Moscow, Russia), was a guest of honour at the national selections for the “Eurovision” Song Contest in Finland, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, took part in the events of “Junior Eurovision” (Minsk, Belarus). He provided his voice for the animation movie “How To Train Your Dragon” (Norway) and starred in the children movie “Yohan - the child-wanderer”.

In 2011, he had performances and concerts in Malta, Bulgaria, Germany, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Sweden.

Alexander starred in the musica l“Da Fargene Forsvant”.

In 2012, with his father and musicians Mikhail and Boris Kazinsky participated in the project “Fathers and Sons” (Latvia).

In 2013, he performed in Germany, Greece, Romania, Estonia, Turkey, USA, Lithuania, and was a jury member of the International Festival of Russian Song (London, Great Britain).

In2014, he gave concerts in Belarus.

Alexander Rybak is a frequent guest of television and radio shows in Norway and in the former Soviet republics.

The first studio album “Fairytales” released in 2009 in Norway, Finland, Germany, Denmark and Austria, became platinum thrice in Norway and twice in Russia.

His other albums include “No Boundaries” (2010), “Visa Vid Vindens Ängar” (2011, in collaboration with Swedish songwriters), “Christmas Tales” (2012).

Alexander Rybak has more than once taken part in the International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk”. He performed in the gala concerts of the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the festival and was invited to the “Star Hour” show.