It is now official! Cyprus, one of the contest’s founding members, returns to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time after seven years.
Moreover, RIK, the Cypriot broadcaster, has also revealed its representative as well, the 11-year-old Maria Pissarides.
Who is Maria Pissarides?
The eleven-year-old Maria Pissarides will participate in Junior Eurovision 2024, being the nation’s tenth representative in the contest. Maria Pissarides is a singer, actress, and dancer and has also studied music theory at a London-based institution.
Maria exhibited a passion for performance from a very young age, while in her home country of Cyprus. She is an enthusiast of the arts and, although her initial steps were in dancing, over time she is progressing on to musical theatre.
Maria has held leading roles in multiple shows within her community, including an adaptation of Matilda. She also likes to write lyrics and has taken part in the European Radio 2023 song writing and singing competition, achieving third place with her team.
Currently, at 11 years of age, Maria is a full-time student at a performing arts school in the UK and seeks every opportunity to progress and learn new skills. Maria’s favourite day would include watching movies, drawing, playing with her dog, eating chocolate and berries and spending time with her two brothers!
Maria’s song as well as the music video will be revealed by RIK at a later stage. In fact, Maria’s entry is written by Sofia Patsalides, the Cypriot entrant in Junior Eurovision 2014.
In the meantime, the dancers who will join Maria Pissarides on the stage in Madrid will be selected through auditions conducted by RIK as well as the spokesperson of the Cypriot votes, who will travel with the delegation in Madrid. The stage performance will be conducted by the British creative director Layla Ellison.
Cyprus in Junior Eurovision 2024
Cyprus is the sixteenth country to confirm its participation in the 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, though another country is also expected to make its return. As we had exclusively informed you before, two countries would make its return in Madrid, with the first ultimately being Cyprus. Regarding the second country, announcements are expected soon.
This year will mark Cyprus’ tenth participation in the contest. The country’s best result is eighth place, in 2004 and 2006, while Cyprus’ last appearance in the contest, in 2017, also marks its worst placement, finishing last.
Will Maria Passarides manage to bring Cyprus its best Junior Eurovision result? Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!
Source: RIK
