13y.o. singer from Kazakhstan wins international competition in Bulgaria

13-year old Kazakh girl Tomiris Zhangazinova has just recently returned from Bulgaria, where she won the Grand Prix of the international popular singing competition “Constellation-2014”, Tengrinews reports citing the newspaper Vecherny Almaty.

The young artist performed a Bulgarian song Woman for All Times and two Kazakh songs - Alatau by Nurgisa Tlendiyev and Nursultan Alimkulov, and Zhana Tolkyn - Zhas Urpak (“New Wave – Young Generation”) that was written specially for Tomiris by Kazakh poet Shomishbay Sariyev and composer Beibit Brimgazin.

"Before getting onto the stage, I was a little nervous, because it was the first time I performed at an international competition abroad,” Tomiris recalled after the competition. “Besides, I was the youngest among the 40 participants in my age group - from 13 to 16 years. There were 97 contestants overall, from five-year old kids to 25-year-olds. There was only one Grand Prix for all the categories, which is why all the participants fought for it on equal footing.”

Tomiris shared that the moment she started singing, all her anxiety dispersed because the reception of the audience was positive and even the jury were applauding her.

All the jurors gave her the highest score for her performance. “When they announced that I was awarded the Grand Prix, I was surprised and very happy, because, frankly, I did not expect this," she said.

Tomiris is studying in 8th grade at school in Almaty, in southern Kazakhstan. Despite being so young, she has already won many vocal competitions of Kazakhstan. She even play in several local films.

The girl’s mom Kulpash Zhaparkulovna admited that her daughter had almost no free time: "She goes to bed at midnight and gets up at 6.30 a.m. During the shoots, we leave the house at 9 a.m. and come back at 4 a.m. And so it goes every day. Sometimes I which her schedule was more relaxed."

In order to fully devote herself to Tomiris, Kulpash Zhaparkulovna left her work. She accompanies Tomiris to all the competitions, concerts and filmings. The father supports the family working as a sports massage therapist.

"We have to literally deny ourselves everything, so that our girl can learn to sing professionally, look decent on stage, go to competitions,” the mother said. “All this is very expensive but for our Tomiris, for the sake of her future, we are ready to do it."

After the triumph in Bulgaria, Tomiris has found a new goal. In 2015, she wants to take part in the international festival-competition for children and teenagers in San Remo, Italy. But this is just yet another step for the young singer.

"My dream is to become a world star - a singer, actress and TV presenter," Tomiris said.

By Dinara Urazova