The Nutcracker International Television Contest for Young Musicians is an annual music competition, organized by "Russia K" (Rossia-Kultura) state TV channel, a branch of the VGTRK. The contest, according to its rules, is open to participants from all regions of Russia.
First held in 2000, the contest became a recognized event in the Russian music world. The multimillion audience follows with interest in the competition of the participants day after day, and "Russia K" TV channel transmits the Gala Closing concert live.
The contest is limited to a solo performance of classical music and has three fields: piano, strings (violin, cello, harp) and winds and percussions (except for block flute).
The Nutcracker winner represents Russia at the Eurovision Young Musicians Competition, as the "Russia K" channel is a member of the EBU.
The musicians of modern age (Galina Vishnevskaya, Vladimir Spivakov, Vladimir Kraynev, Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Alexander Rudin, Denis Matsuyev, Dmitri Khvorostovsky, Nikolay Petrov, Ignat Solzhenitsyn) support the contest, working as adjudicators and providing special prizes and grants.
Gifted children from all over the world have an opportunity not only to show themselves as serious musicians but also to get acquainted, to change their experiences and to perform on the same stage with world-class musicians - the final round of the contest is accompanied by the best Russian orchestras.
The contest traditionally starts with the beginning of Russian autumn school vacations, early November and take place in the Central Music School (College) of Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory's halls with the Finale at the Tchaikovsky Concert hall.
The deadline for entries in 2011 was August 10.
Strings: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Leia Zhu (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom)); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Eugene Kawai (Tokyo, Japan); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Eduard Kollert (Prague, Czech Republic) .
Winds and percussions: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Timofei Yakhnov (Saint-Petersburg); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Andrei Ryazantsev (Moscow); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Mikhail Petukhov (Moscow).
Piano: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Maxim Lando (Great Neck, USA); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Varvara Kutuzova (Moscow); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Nikolai Varlamov (Moscow).
Strings: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Lizi Ramishvili (Tbilisi, Georgia); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Alexander Shapchits (Moscow, Russia); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Mijhail Dormidontov (Serpukhov, Russia).
Winds and percussions: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Matvey Sherling (Moscow, Russia); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Maxim Savran (Cheboksary, Russia); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Vilhelm Patrick Skabardis (Riga, Latvia).
Piano: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Daniil Kharitonov (Moscow, Russia); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Nikita Korovin (surgut, Russia); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Alina Zhilina (Barnaul, Russia).
Audience award - Nikita Korovin (Russia).
Strings: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Iskandeor Khannanov (Ufa, Russia) and Grégoire Girard(France); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Tatiana Kryachkova (Barnaul, Russia); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - none.
Winds and percussions: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - none; II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Valentin Kochetkov (Moscow, Russia) and Denis Kokorin (Bratsk, Russia); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Arseniy Tsoy (Saratov, Russia).
Piano: I prize, ëGold Nutcrackerû - Vasiliy Salnikov (Moscow, Russia); II prize, ëSilver Nutcrackerû - Maximilian Karl Kromer (Austria); III prize, ëBronze Nutcrackerû - Gregory Martin (USA).
Special prize ëYoung musician of the yearû - Iskandeor Khannanov, Children Jury award - Denis Kokorin, Audience award - Vasiliy Salnikov.