Embassy Representatives Attend Roma Superstar Competition in Spišsky Hrhov

August 3, 2009

Embassy representatives on July 28-30 travelled to the Spiš region of Eastern Slovakia to attend the Roma Super Star music competition hosted by Slovak singer Dorota Nvotová. 150 musicians and singers auditioned for the national competition, and 20 artists performed during the final show on July 29 in Spišsky Hrhov. The performers played a mix of Slovak and Roma songs for an audience of 700. The winner was fourteen-year-old singer Martin Misalko whose prize will be a trip to Morocco. While in the region, the Embassy representatives met with various Roma community leaders, and visited a community center in the town of Sveržov. The main issues discussed were the situation of the Roma minority in Slovakia and various efforts to improve their social inclusion in this country.