Winners of `Living Classics - 2026` national finals were awarded in  Yerevan

ArmInfo.  The awards ceremony for the winners and laureates of the national finals of the "Living Classics - 2026" International Young Reciters' Competition, which  took place on March 4, was held at the Russian House in Yerevan.

According to the Russian House press service, "Living Classics"  rightfully remains one of the most beloved competitions among  Armenian schoolchildren, and interest in it only grows each year.

Vadim Fefilov, head of the Rossotrudnichestvo office in Armenia,  noted that in 2024, they had 140 participants, last year there were  250, and this year, 349 participants from 83 Armenian schools.

"This is a wonderful result, demonstrating the children's desire to  read and study the classics. I would like to especially commend Sona  Sarajyan, the national operator of the 'Living Classics' competition,  for her active development of the project in Armenia, and Aigul  Shamsutdinova, who joined this effort. A huge thank you to the  children and teachers for all you do," said Fefilov.

Following the competition's results, the winners and laureates were  awarded diplomas and souvenirs, and the first-place winners received  trips to Artek, where the International Finals will be held in May.   The winners shared their impressions: Mane Petrosyan, 9th grade,  Metsamor Basic School No. 1 (3rd place): "'Living Classics' was a  great experience for me. I got to know myself better and realized how  I can perform on stage."

In turn, Maxim Torosyan, 6th grade, Tatev School in Yerevan (2nd  place), thanked his teachers and mother for their support. "It was a  very exciting performance-my first in front of such a large  audience," the student said.

Levon Gevorgyan, an 11th-grader from Yerevan's Tatul Krpeyan High  School No. 62 (first place), said he attended Artek last year on a  different program but dreamed of returning. "I've been working on  myself all year-and I'm grateful to the Russian House for this  opportunity," he added.