June 2, 2019 - At the Rhythm of Europe, the children's music festival held last night in Tivat, between teams from 12 cities, the winner was named the children of Podgorica with the song "The Fire in Your Eyes," which represented Israel at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.
The top performances, excellent participants, charming hosts - Igor Karadarević, director of this project, Maja Kovačević from TVCG and special music guest, Goca Tržan, with the elegant ambiance of the Adriatic Marinas administrative building and the heart of the audience made the Rhythm of Europe one of the best-seen events of this kind in Tivat. Each municipality performed with song and play, representing one of the countries of Europe and singing in the country's language. The public and the jury decided the best were the children of Podgorica. In addition to Israel, The Rhythm of Europe project, which has been extended from Serbia to the region and other European countries, is supported by Australia, whose ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Ruth Stewart, attended last night's competition.
Montenegro in the Rhythm of Europe, 1 June 2019, Tivat, Photo by Sonja Štilet, Radio Tivat
Welcoming Ambassador Stewart, as well as Ambassador of Belgium, Adam Koenraad, President of the Municipality of Tivat Siniša Kusovac, addressed the children in a welcome speech:
"Although we still do not know the winner of this competition, I will say that you, children, are always winners for us, because your smile of gold is worth it."
"Although I was somewhat skeptical of this project, I can now say that I am incredibly pleased, and congratulate the organization of Montenegro in the Rhythm of Europe, which did this in a very professional, dignified and sincere way, and made this event remembered as the only of such kind in Tivat," Kusovac said.
Besides the winning team from Podgorica, the competition included the children of Berane, Danilovgrad, Bijelo Polje, Plav, Pljevlja, Petnjica, Mojkovac, Kotor, Nikšić, Herceg Novi and the host city, thee winner of the previous edition of the festival Montenegro in the Rhythm of Europe.
Montenegro in the Rhythm of Europe, 1 June 2019, Photo by Sonja Štilet, Radio TivatMontenegro is just one of the countries where the event, a franchise set by Igor Karadarević and David Maković from neighboring Serbia is organized. During the program, members of the project from Cyprus, Sweden, and Serbia were directly involved, giving support to participants in Tivat.
Ambassadors of Australia and Belgium agree that this is a project with great potential.
"It was fantastic! It is beautiful to see children from all over Montenegro who enjoy life by understanding the importance of participating in such events where they learn about other countries. That's fantastic, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support it," said Ambassador of Australia, Ruth Stewart.
Emphasizing that he comes from Belgium, the capital of Europe, Ambassador Adam Koenraad highlighted the potential of the project The Rhythm of Europe in promoting the idea of European communion among children and youth in the countries in which it is organized.
"I enjoyed this enthusiasm of young people, which brought together the idea of Europe, a European culture through music and dance, through joy. It is an essential thing - children enjoy and give us a chance to experience their happiness. So we are all winners. It was a wonderful evening."
The concept of the event The Rhythm of Europe is an exciting way of reformulating the idea of Eurovision content, initiated in 1956.
"Of course I like the Rhythm of Europe concept. Finally, Belgium is one of the seven countries that designed it, but not for children. Therefore, we should thank Igor Karadarevic and his team on this project and congratulate them on the launch of a children's music festival, which relies on the concept of Eurovision but is held within a country by gathering representatives of its cities. This is something that has emerged in the Balkans but has spread further, and we hope that other countries in Europe will recognize it," said Ambassador of Belgium, the country that first recognized the potential of the project, providing support and assistance to the organizers since the first edition of the festival in Serbia.
The Rhythm of Europe is Children's Music Festival Held in Several Countries The biggest children's music competition in Serbia, The Rhythm of Europe, with a broadcast on national television, has ten years of tradition and is supported by the Ambassadors of Countries in Europe, Israel, and Australia.
It is a competition that gathers children of primary and secondary school age who, besides their city or municipality, present and sing in the language of one of the countries of Europe, Israel, and Australia. The total number of towns of representatives - competitors, is 20 in one country. The process of preparing children for live television broadcasts lasts six months during which children are trained with television teams to present in the live TV broadcast of the country of Europe, Israel, and Australia.
The winner of the competition is determined by adding the SMS votes and votes of the jury of participating cities. The winning city, as a prize, receives television broadcast for the next year on national television from that city, and the children of the winning city get a trip to the country that they have represented in a live television program.
Apart from Serbia and Montenegro, the project "In the Rhythm of Europe" has been implemented for the time being in Cyprus, Moldova, Sweden, Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria.
