The highest standard of the Grigory Leps competition. “Highest Standard” celebrated the birthday of Grigory Leps

On December 2, the final of the second season of the music competition “Highest Test” took place, in which the groups “Pudra” and “Beavers” fought for the victory.

The young rockers defeated the seasoned Beavers, but the fight turned out to be extremely bright and exciting. So much so that the general producer of the competition, Grigory Leps, who came to personally congratulate the finalists, stayed at the jury table for almost the entire evening and watched with obvious interest what was happening in the red and blue corners of the “ring.”

The “Pudra” group eventually received the first prize - a certificate for filming a video, which was presented to the winners by the general director of the Grigory Leps PC, Alexander Nikitin. He also congratulated the silver finalists - the group "Beavers", who will now be able to record a song at Grigory Leps' studio.

The general producer of the competition, Grigory Leps, personally addressed the finalists, whose appearance in the crowded Rose Bar caused an unprecedented stir: “I really wanted to personally congratulate everyone who reached the finals and wish them good luck, a fair fight, fair judging, which is important! To those who didn’t make it, I want to say: this is not the end, everything is ahead of you!”

The special guest of the evening, participant in the show “Voice-5” Alexander Panayotov, joined the wishes of Grigory Leps: “I know one thing for sure: any competition is only a springboard for the artist. The most important thing begins after the competition. Therefore, I sincerely wish success to all participants in the “Highest Standard” project. The fact that you are here on the Rose Bar stage is already a testament to your talent and professionalism!”

On December 9, the super final of the “Highest Test” competition will take place, in which the winners of two seasons, Danil Buranov and the group “Pudra,” will compete for the championship title. Danil will have a hard time, because he will actually have to prove that it was not in vain that he spent a year at the Grigory Leps Production Center. By the way, last Friday the champion of the first season presented to the public his debut video “People,” filmed under the direction of Grigory Leps, and in the super final the artist will perform three songs recorded as part of his work with the Production Center. So, in fact, the singer will have to report on the work done.

By the way, the second finalist of the first season, Romadi, also ended up in the Grigory Leps Human Rights Center and for recent months From an aspiring singer she turned into a rising star. It could be heard at the “New Wave” competition and at the “Heat” festival. And the other day, the joint tour of Grigory Leps’s wards “Highest Test” in the cities of the Moscow region ends, which revealed to listeners several talented performers at once - the already mentioned Danil Buranov and Romadi, and Tatyana Shirko, Alina Grosu, Sharif, Nikolai Timokhin and Niko Neman.

Apparently, the absolute honesty of the “Highest Standard” competition and its originality - the contestants perform only their own material - attracted the attention of not only beginning musicians, but also established artists. Among those who supported the idea of ​​the Grigory Leps Producer Center were Emin, Anita Tsoi, Sogdiana, Alexey Vorobyov, the Pizza group, Alexey Chumakov, Nyusha, Denis Maidanov, the VIA GRA and MBand groups, Abraham Russo, Anna Sedokova, Dominic Joker, Peter Dranga, Oleg Miami, Dmitry Pevtsov, Stas Kostyushkin, Denis Klyaver, Natasha Koroleva, the group “Degrees” - in a word, the entire domestic show business!

October 7th, 2016

Dear friends! According to the “tradition” that has developed for some time now, I continue to share with you on personal experience the way and how the “promotion” of little-known performers actually occurs at the present time through participation in certain events, festivals, competitions and whether it happens... I always try to be objective and as frank as possible. And, of course, I “check” this experimentally on myself, and then I share my impressions and describe “what I saw, heard,” and designated.
So. Recently, I “made an attempt” to take part in the project of the Human Rights Center Grigory Leps “Higher Test”. I took the project/competition very seriously, because the name of the center alone is worth something... I carefully read the terms, uploaded the necessary content and published the posts on social media. networks about your participation in order to attract maximum amount votes.

According to the rules of the competition, every week two contestants with the most votes are selected for full-time performance. Voices in my support began to grow quite quickly. By a certain point, I took first place in the standings. However, there was no invitation from the organizers. Another week has passed. The number of votes is growing - there is no invitation. Another week... And when the Higher Proba HRC announced the last two contestants in the division, I was surprised, because... I didn’t find my name among them again. I asked the organizers how it happened that, despite the fact that I had fulfilled their conditions, I was never among the participants who received the right to further battle in the project? They were no less surprised than I was, asking where I got the information that the last participants had been designated. After a correspondence that lasted a couple of days, they thanked me for my attention and stated that they simply did not have time to change the rules for the second division and that, it turns out, two more participants would be invited. Well, I, of course, can imagine how busy and busy the organizers and administration are, but this competition began in March!!! And it turns out that we will only find out that the rules have not been changed a couple of days before the final. How is that??? I got interested! Is it really possible that in six months no one except me studied these rules and paid neither their own nor the organizers’ attention to this? To be honest, this surprised me a little...

Anyway!!! We are waiting for the last two lucky winners of the fifth division, who will be invited to participate in the project further. My positions continue to grow, and the gap becomes more and more significant. The intensity of passions also increases and the participants, as well as those who support them, begin to ask the administration how they select artists and on what basis, which clearly does not correspond to the stated rules. And the project leader, Vitaly, answered all these questions with great pleasure:

After watching the video, many points became clear, except who the “professionals” are in their understanding and who they are looking for specifically. After all, they have it written in black and white (their favorite phrase) “Do you want new talented artists to play on radio stations?” And we want the same thing! Not a word in the conditions, in the requirements, about “professionalism” (availability of diplomas, etc.) and, especially, about the “mechanisms” for checking it. Also, Vitaly named the specific names of the participants whom they “cannot invite” due to poor video quality, fake votes, etc. But how then can we explain the fact that they still receive participants with enviable frequency who have provided material that is far from being the best? best quality, where neither a voice is heard nor faces are really visible (the same view from the back), but an impressive list of festivals and competitions in which the group/performer took part is listed. Also, the requirements in the rules for video quality are also not written down anywhere... Plus, performers with frankly “inflated” voices still get onto the project! I will talk about this further.

So, first of all, I decided to ask the organizers/administration what “professional performer” means to them and whether it makes sense for me to continue taking part, because... I do not have a musical education and, if this were indicated in the rules, I would not, naturally, even take part. I received the following answer to my question (spelling and punctuation preserved):

« In fact, everything is simple: a “professional” artist is determined by the presence of 1) original material recorded not in three chords and three steps, but modern and interesting, and most importantly, that it can be listened to! 2) You can look at everything from two sides: the first is when we are looking for ready-made talent who knows in which direction to work, what to do, but he does not have the means to do this, but there is a clear plan and desire, but here it is important to remember ambitions and self-esteem, often many people overestimate it, considering themselves “well, very cool,” although this is not adequately true! On the second hand, we want to find an artist who has already taken place, and he fits into the modern musical framework, now let us explain, conditionally, if you are informal and consider yourself an original type, but at the same time your originality has no fans, confirmation of activity, etc., then it’s unlikely whether we choose you, but if you prove that your originality has the right to be, then we will already fight to have the honor of cooperating with you! And the second option if you are a pedant and know what and how to do and does it according to the format!
This is short, but if you need a criterion by which we evaluate and how we determine it, then please read the book:
Strakovich Y. "Digital revolution. What happened to music in the 21st century"
It is on the principles described in this book that our decision is based!”

The situation has become somewhat clearer again, since in their own words, “Everyone who is involved in creativity and music has a chance” and, moreover, if the content can become interesting or already be so among listeners.
Go ahead. On September 30, 2016, online voting closes and everyone is waiting with bated breath for the results. Table No. 1 looks like this. Table No. 2 is already the results as of 10/01/16. All! Voting is closed!

But then a wonderful miracle happens!!!))) On 10/03/16 the last participants in the second division are announced. Let's look at table No. 3. Oh how!!! They somehow managed not only to get onto the project, but also to gain a decent number of votes after the voting closed (in table No. 3, participants No. 5 and No. 6 were invited, and in position No. 4 appeared like a bolt from the blue completely new member!). And here, naturally, again the question is not for the participants, how did they manage to do this?! Well done guys! Everyone makes their way into the future in the way they consider possible and necessary, this is worthy of respect, and to the organizers. What are the rules then? Why loud words about the fact that we don’t invite those who are “inflated”? How is the process organized and in what way? For what and for whom?

Of course, I noticed this fact right in their VK group, which, by the way, even has an extremely friendly, crisply inviting inscription “Ask questions that interest you. You can just write “hello,” we don’t bite and are always happy to communicate,” asked questions about how participants are selected, what the organizers are guided by, and why everything that happens doesn’t comply too much with the rules. Moreover, on their main page of the official website the phrase shines so brilliantly and proudly like the inscription Hollywood: “Tired of rigged results? And we are tired! My signature and questions were joined by other people who would also be interested in clarifying a number of these points.

And on this solemn note the curtain falls))) Our correctly and culturally asked, moreover, well-reasoned questions and comments are deleted, and we, those who are interested, quietly and calmly, without noise and dust, are simply placed/inscribed/put on the Black List) To messages in other social networks - silence...

At this moment I was even confused... It was really unexpected, because... there was no offensive/accusatory nature in the questions and comments, they simply asked questions of interest. What was the difficulty for the organizers/administrators to simply explain? Why did we get banned? For asking questions to which there are no answers or there are, but you don’t really want to voice them? Why is it so easy for people who do not hesitate to ask relevant questions, who have their own opinions (possibly contrary to their opinions) to be destroyed/erased/silenced? Where is the respect, first of all, for themselves, that in this way they “receive” as guests those whom they themselves invite and attract, and then throw out those they don’t like for themselves without further explanation. That's why it's getting quieter and quieter everywhere. Because you either remain silent, or just open your mouth in order to admire and assent to the “powers of this world.” Because you are just “a simple people and you should be silent and wait on you, and say only what is permitted.” Otherwise, you are subject to liquidation.

To be honest, what upset me was not that I wasn’t invited. I was outraged by this attitude towards people, and I also really wanted to understand the current situation and simply clarify the points of interest for myself. When something is not too clear and understandable to me, I always ask, especially since this is even “welcomed” in the “Questions and Answers” ​​section of the project, because this is the first time I have actually encountered such a discrepancy between rules and actions.

It is clear that neither the higher-level organizers above the “administration” nor Grigory Viktorovich Leps most likely even think about how the selection of participants actually works, and the dialogues with them are carried out, and, in general, the process of holding the competition itself is carried out. Since they are presented only to those who are “lucky enough” to pass and follow exactly the “rules”, which, as it turns out, do not exist in this competition, unfortunately. Perhaps someday the moment will come when someone from the “higher-ups” in the production center will become familiar with either these recordings or similar ones and measures will be taken that will have a positive impact on both the prestige of the center and interest in it. In the meantime, it is extremely difficult to see a serious attitude towards it (what can we say if the participants do not even read the rules carefully and the organizers do not care), nor increased interest - this is easily read by the number of comments on posts, likes - activity in general.

Personally, I found it interesting to participate in this competition only because the director is Grigory Viktorovich and it was important for me that the recordings were listened to. I don't like competitions!!! But, unfortunately, only by participating in such events can you gain the right to be noticed and “ creative process" received new life. And, in theory, I have earned this right! But why haven’t I earned the right to find out by what right this right was taken away from me and by whom??? I just wanted answers, that's all.

And, frankly, I’m ready to get on a thousand more similar Black Lists, rather than get on the Black List myself and remain silent about such attitudes, actions and arbitrariness. Because it is a hundred times more difficult for me to go against myself than against many, many people. Also, I can’t just come to terms with this attitude towards people who came to my defense. If people support me, then I must support them - this is how it should be, this is right! And for the same reason, I decided to tell, sharing how things really are on a young, “developing” project.

I love their positive and hopeful slogan! “Above the stars is only the Highest Test.” In my subjective opinion, there is still something above the Highest Standard... What exactly? And above the Highest Standard there is a higher misunderstanding of what is happening and what is indicated.
All participants who sent applications deserve respect! This creative people, presenting their material in the form in which they imagine it for themselves. And each of them creates something that already deserves attention! But not ridicule, mockery, contemptuous and dismissive attitudes and looks, as well as total destruction of those who notice any inconsistencies with reality!

Many of the participants would like to find out how it turns out that these rules work one way for some people, and work differently for others... But, as we see for ourselves, so far there are still more questions than answers... And there is no one to ask them, and there is no one to receive them from. If “unnecessary questions” appear - a ban. So, maybe the whole world should be immediately thrown into an emergency - and world domination is in your hands, dude? Who doesn't like something here?)))

Therefore, friends!!! If you suddenly, nevertheless, decide to take part in the Highest Test - first, carefully study everything written “in black and white” white rules", write them down on a piece of paper, burn them in New Year's Eve, dissolve in a glass and drink with champagne and safely forget about them - they are not there!!! Just as there is no orderliness, systematization and distribution in organizational moment. Where there is chaos, there is no prosperity...

But not everything is so pessimistic!!! Whoever should be heard will be heard - it’s only a matter of time! Therefore, friends, be sure to participate, achieve and only move forward towards your goal, dream!

And I, in turn, spanking the Black Lists, move on..... I go in order to move forward, in order to share with you what I saw and noted again, in order to prove myself, express my opinion and... again get into the next The emergency is due to the fact that the desire to become like the “silent” and to fawn, endlessly assent, to admire what does not cause delight, stepping on the voice of one’s own song, is absent. And I came to sing!) And this is my right and my way))

PS: I beg your pardon generously if I have offended, offended, offended anyone, for the fact that I can speak, for the fact that I am trying to voice the truth and for the fact that I live!) In case of disagreement with any of the above, I am always ready to constructive dialogue, built on mutual respect of opponents.

The “Highest Standard” music competition continues. Last Friday in the traditional Rose Bar hosted the final stage of the third division, in which The groups “Team 11” and Alter e.g.o met. The “intermediate” victory and a certificate for a week’s rotation on “Good FM” went to “Team 11”. However, the counting of votes and discussion of the performances of the contestants this time turned out to be very heated. Mainly thanks to the special guest of the jury of the Grigory Leps Production Center Rodion Gazmanov, who was indignant derogatory comments from the jury members of the “Higher School” addressed to the contestants.

For those who have recently joined the fans of the competition or watched the online broadcast of “Highest Standard” for the first time, it is worth explaining: the participants in the musical duels are voted on by viewers on the Internet, guests of the Rose Bar and a jury consisting of two parts. The first consists of representatives of the Grigory Leps Production Center, the second - of students from the production faculties of GITIS, VGIK, Gnesinka, etc. So these are the assessments of the “Higher School” and how they are argued future producers, who stated that the musical material of both participants did not inspire them at all, hurt Rodion Gazmanov to the core:

“Guys, we need to be more polite towards teams. You had a wonderful comment: “We listened to three songs, but could not reproduce any of them.” You wrote musical dictations where you studied? You said you couldn't play the tunes, but that would discredit you rather than the band. We are all colleagues here, and the musicians who had the courage to go on stage, and even with their own material, should be treated with respect at least for this!”

After which the singer made several professional comments on sound quality and gave specific advice that will certainly be useful to both “Team 11” and Alter e.g.o. much more than the lengthy discussions of future producers about the dubious prospects of both projects. A performance by Rodion himself, during which he performed his hits “Gravity” and “Summer”, as well as the very fresh track “Chance”, in which demonstrated the gulf separating novice musicians and real professionals. By the way, very soon Rodion Gazmanov plans to shoot a video for the song “Chance”, and in the fall he plans to release an album and give a full-fledged solo concert.

It remains to add that the last edition of the “Highest Standard” competition was dedicated to the birthday of Grigory Leps,
and therefore the evening began and ended with his song “The Best Day,” which was performed together by the artist of the Grigory Leps Human Rights Center Niko Neman and Rodion Gazmanov, presenters and contestants. And the most original was the congratulation from the group Alter e.g.o., whose participants at the end of their performance wore T-shirts with letters that spelled out the words: “Happy LEPS Day!”

This week it will become clear which of the participants in the third division will take the stage in its final on July 22: not only the votes of the audience will be taken into account, but also the most important voice - Grigory Leps, who constantly monitors what is happening at the competition. And those who were unable to watch the online broadcast will see the TV version on Russian Music Box channel on Tuesday, July 19 at 21.00.

Photo — Evgeniy Savchenko

When a friend calls you and offers you to sit on the jury of a competition “Highest standard” of the Grigory Leps Production Center, you instantly agree and only then wonder: can you handle it? But everything turned out to be not only not scary, but also very interesting.

"" is a competition for young talents founded by the Producer Center Grigory Leps(54). Every Friday at the restaurant Rose Bar A musical battle is taking place - two performers who dream of recognition and national fame are fighting to advance to the next round. The main prize of this season is the opportunity to shoot a video for the debut song using the funds of the production center (there is also a Grand Prix - a work contract. But the organizers of the competition still reserve the right not to award the Grand Prix).

How it all happens: the artists perform three compositions. By the way, covers are also allowed. The main thing is to hook the audience in the hall and on the other side of the screen, the jury from the production center (permanent representatives of the Grigory Leps Production Center, invited show business professionals - sound producers, sound engineers, musicians, journalists, representatives of radio stations and TV) and the jury consisting of production students faculties of Moscow universities: GITIS, Moscow Art Theater, VGIK, Gnessin Academy and Moscow State Institute of Cinematography. In the end, all votes are summed up and a winner is chosen.

I saw a performance by two very talented, but completely different performers: a 16-year-old touching and cheeky group (a la the young " Leningrad""). This is how it happens: a very young girl against seasoned men with tools.

Botanical Garden were already well known to regular viewers of the “Highest Standard” - guys with ambitions participated in the last season. But for these guys, the credo in life is either everything or nothing. So they storm the Rose Bar again. But Olya Krasnova is a newcomer. She says she came to show herself and get a thrill from the performance.

They sat on the jury with me Alexander Nikitin, General Director of the Grigory Leps Production Center, singer and my good friend(21), which, by the way, was not so long ago our "", representative of a radio station with the laconic name "Radio" Andrey Shavrin and, you won’t believe it, the group “”. And the original composition! These are the interesting acquaintances you can make just by going to the “Highest Test”.

The participants spoke and voting began online and in the auditorium. And so that no one would get bored, “Strelki” performed. They performed their timeless hit “You Left Me” and a couple of new compositions that were not inferior to the imperishable song in terms of energy and fiery intensity. Voting in the Rose Bar goes like this: before the start of the show, each guest of the restaurant was given a small badge. The performers themselves walk around the hall with large vases in their hands, and the audience places tokens there. When all the badges have been distributed, the jury of the Grigory Leps Production Center and the jury of universities vote. Each jury member has five signs with numbers from one to five. You just need to hold up the sign with the rating you want to give to the performer. Personally, my sympathies were on the side of the Botanical Garden, so it’s a solid five for them, and a solid four for Ole.

When the project leader Vitaly Voronov I asked the jury to explain their decision, it became a little scary - the whole room was looking at you, and you were trying to formulate why you gave the highest rating to an already formed team, but underestimated a very young girl. But you need to pull yourself together and not retreat: in my opinion, Olya then lacked a little spark, a kind of passion that an artist simply must have, because otherwise why would he perform on stage. Of course, she just needs to grow up and speed up, so I'm sure we'll be hearing about this sweet girl soon. Based on the results of the voting, the Botanical Garden group won – they advanced to the next round. By the way, they have every chance of winning this season. I will definitely follow their work and advise you to do so.

“Highest Standard” is a project that helps as yet unknown talents break onto the big stage. You come there and you find yourself at an interesting concert with bright performers and high-quality sound. So, if you have never been to this competition, come to the Rose Bar any Friday and see everything with your own eyes.

The highest standard. Final – Leps – Panayotov

The winner of the Grigory Leps “Highest Standard” competition has been determined
On December 2, the name of the winner of the second season of the “Highest Standard” music competition became known. They became a group of teenage girls “Powder”. So far, most of the fans of “Powder” are in Japan, where the girls constantly work, but, perhaps, thanks to the project of the Grigory Leps Production Center, people will now know about them in their homeland.

The group "Pudra" received the first prize - a certificate for filming a video, which was presented to the winners by the general director of the Grigory Leps PC, Alexander Nikitin. He also congratulated the group “Beavers” who took second place, who will now be able to record a song at Grigory Leps’ studio.
The general producer of the competition, Grigory Leps, personally congratulated the finalists, whose appearance caused an unprecedented stir in the crowded Rose Bar: “I really wanted to personally congratulate everyone who reached the finals and wish them good luck, a fair fight, fair judging, which is important! To those who didn’t make it, I want to say: this is not the end, everything is ahead of you!”

Alexander Panayotov, a special guest of the evening, joined his mentor on the “Voice” show: “I don’t know if I will be able to win “The Voice.” I'm not a clairvoyant. But I know for sure: any competition is just a springboard. The most important thing begins after the competition. Therefore, I sincerely wish success to all participants in the “Highest Standard” project. The fact that you are here on the stage of the Rose Bar is already a testament to your talent and professionalism!”

The final ended with the performance of the finalists of the first season - Danil Buranov and Romadi. On December 9, Buranov will take part in the super final, where he will compete with the group “Pudra”. The artist faces a more than responsible mission - to defend his champion title and show what he has achieved in the first year of working with Grigory Leps.
Last Friday, Danil Buranov presented the guests of the final with his debut video “People”, filmed under the guidance of his eminent mentor. The artist is confident that Zaur Zaseev’s video will attract the attention of both those viewers for whom a dynamic modern “picture” comes first, and those for whom the idea put into the video by the director and artist is most important: “Which of us has at least once didn't want to take the risk? Throw an expensive car on the road, slam the endlessly ringing telephone on the ground, throw off such fashionable, but such hellishly uncomfortable shoes... And, inhaling the heady Fresh air finally feel completely free!”

The TV version of the second season finale can be watched on the Russian Music Box channel on December 6 at 21.00. Viewers will see not only an exciting battle between the groups “Pudra” and “Beavers”, but also performances by singer Zlataslava and participant in the show “The Voice” Alexander Panayotov, and will also find out what prizes the contestants received from general director Jewelry house of Grigory Leps Anna Leps.
Photo by Evgeny Solomatin