The official ESC YouTube channel has released the song 'My Turn' that will represent the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.- view it here:- https://youtu.be/ZlwKm-_jvQk

Martina Bárta is a young, ambitious, and talented singer – a new discovery on the jazz scene, endlessly travelling between Prague and Berlin, a combination of respect for the classics and a love of everything modern and innovative. With her song, "My Turn," Bárta brings immense enthusiasm, positive energy, and an exceptional style of expression to Eurovision. She captured the attention of the ESC Czech Team's management both with her strong and captivating voice as well as with her energy and musical sensitivity.

Czech fans know Martina from her performances with the legendary Felix Slováček Big Band as well as from the successful project, Sinatrology. She also often performs with her older sister, Kristina, who is a successful jazz pianist and composer. Together they have won such awards as the "2016 Best Jazz Composition" at Bohemia Jazz Fest. However, she truly came into the limelight thanks to her win in the television casting show, " Robin Hood – cesta ke slávě" ("Robin Hood – The Path to Fame"), which offered her the opportunity to play the leading female role of "Maid Marion" in the musical Robin Hood by Ondřej Soukup and Gábina Osvaldová in Prague's Divadlo Kalich Threatre.

It is in Germany, however, that Martina has experienced her most significant success and popularity. She performs regularly with various musical projects, has appeared at many jazz festivals, works on her own project, "Scotch and Soda," and makes guest appearances with the band of German rock legend, Henning Protzmann, famed member of the bands Karat and Panta Rhei. Her artistic activity abroad has earned her the privilege to meet and collaborate with global musical leaders such as the Roy Hargrove Quintet and American percussionist, Gregory Hutchinson. Last year, she had her first opportunity to travel to the United States of America, when she participated in the Jazz in Port Townsend workshop under the leadership of American contrabassist and Grammy Award-winning arranger John Clayton.

A large share of the brilliance of her expression can be attributed to her studies in classical music and French horn performance at the Gymnázium Jana Nerudy grammar school, popular vocal performance at the Prague Conservatoire, and, most importantly, her studies with leaders in their field at the prestigious Jazz Institut Universität der Künste in Berlin.

http://www.martinabarta.com/
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/videos?id=259353

Get ready! Tickets for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest to go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday 14th February, at 19:15 CET.

Up to 70,000 tickets for this year’s event in May, hosted at the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, will be sold across nine shows: six Dress Rehearsals, two Semi-Finals and the Grand Final. You will be able to purchase tickets, priced at various levels between 8 and 500 euros, from 19:15 CET on the ticketing website www.concert.ua/en.

Only buy tickets from the official ticket agency!

Want to know more? The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest will take place on 9, 11 and 13 May in Kyiv, Ukraine. Check out the official website for more information:

Read the full story on Eurovision.tv

Kazakhstan are set to become the latest of new countries to enter Eurovision history with Australia being the last country to debut in last year's edition as an 'invited guest'.

Česká televize (Czech Television) has begun its preparations for the next Eurovision Song Contest, the largest singing competition in Europe, which will be held in Ukraine. The choice of song that will represent the Czech Republic is open to songwriters from around the world and once again will be selected by a jury composed of respected music experts.

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest took place in the Swedish capital Stockholm, with the Czech Republic represented by Gabriela Gunčíková and the song “I Stand”. For the first time in history, the Czech entry successfully fought its way into the final. The Czech Republic therefore had the opportunity to present itself to 204 million viewers in 42 countries.

“I’m very pleased that we will once again have the opportunity to represent the Czech Republic in the world’s biggest entertainment show. Our priority is to constantly raise the quality of both the choice of song and artist, and in the presentation at the contest itself”, says Head of Delegation Jan Bors.
The song will be selected by an expert jury made up of representatives of Česká televise and respected music experts.

The jury will then choose the performer who will go on to represent the Czech Republic at next year’s European Song Contest. The choice of composition is open to songwriters from all corners of the globe, who can send their proposals by 30 November to the address esc2017@ceskatelevize.cz. The basic conditions for submission are that the registered song has a maximum length of 3 minutes, and must not be published or played at any location before 1 September 2016, and that the recording is submitted together with the lyrics and reference vocals.

“Finding a song which fits current global trends and quality, while at the same time standing up to the intense competition at the European Song Contest is very complex. It is perfectly normal that even Czech artists collaborate with foreign writers and producers. I’m convinced that being as open as possible to the choice of song is, above all, the way to higher quality”, adds Jan Potměšil, the creative producer in charge of the project.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a music competition organised by active members of the European Broadcasting Union. It is the most watched non-sporting event in the world, broadcast not only in the participating countries, but also in Australia, Brazil, Japan and the USA. First held in 1956, it is one of the longest running shows in television history.

www.ceskatelevize.cz

Jamie Lee cast a spell over a million viewers when she won the season’s finale of 'The Voice of Germany' last December. The schoolgirl from Hanover will represent Germany with her winning song "Ghost" in the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14th in Stockholm.

After her outstanding success in 'The Voice of Germany', Jamie Lee was able to win over the hearts of the viewers of the ESC’s German pre-selection. The competitors were left behind as she drew all the attention with her multifaceted voice and her original dress sense. She will now be representing Germany in Stockholm. This Miss Manga, the bubbly public’s favourite, has more than demonstrated how much she loves being in the limelight whilst in the 'The Voice' team of Michi Beck & Smudo (Die Fantastischen Vier), these star qualities will prove very useful to her on an international level.

This fascinating, independent and exceptional artist doesn’t take herself too seriously, dreams of taking a trip to Korea, lives as a vegan and is an absolute fan of the japanese 'Decora Kei' style, as anyone can easily see in the playful, extrovert and colourful Manga looks that she wears. A style, with which Jamie Lee is already setting a trend: her eye-catching outfits have already become hot topics on social networks and no doubt all eyes will be on her in Stockholm.

Through her music, Jamie Lee expresses her preference for the Comics aesthetics from the Far East. With her pop ballad "Ghost" Jamie Lee takes us into the secret meanders of her fantasy realm. "Ghost" is a rather sad love song, which depicts a story that anyone can relate to.

"I am an emotional being. I might sometimes appear a little loud or provocative, but I am also a very deep person. I need the ups and downs of life. Tough times are needed too, they make us enjoy the good times more."

Fans should look forward to an explosive appearance in front of an estimated 200 million television viewers on May 14th, when Jamie Lee will present her mystical song "Ghost" in a breathtakingly dreamy scenery to the worldwide audience of the ESC. The 'Team Fanta' pendent that she received as a present from her role models and coaches of 'The Voice of Germany', Michi Beck and Smudo, her best good luck charm, will be with her of course ! Nothing can stop the Manga-Pop Princess Jamie Lee Kriewitz now. "It is a huge honour to have been chosen to participate in the ESC and to represent Germany in Stockholm. Taking part in this contest is for me an amazing opportunity to bring people closer to my music. Music is my life; it was always my absolute dream to perform in front of a large audience. I so look forward to it!"

Let us hope together with her for a Miss Manga miracle !