The final ten competitors in the run-up to Ukraine's selection of a Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006 representative are hard at work with the cream of Ukrainian show-biz professionals, who are training them in readiness for the big showdown on September 23rd.

The final ten were whittled down from a total of twenty hopefuls, who performed their songs live on stage in Kyiv earlier this month. An expert jury selected the best ten from that pool, and now the following artists are hard at work perfecting their skills:

01. Maria Stepanenko (14)
02. Kateryna Paschenko (11)
03. Nazar Slyusarchuk (14)
04. Victoria Petrik (9)
05. Ilona Galitska (11)
06. Yula (Yulia Gavrilenko) (9)
07. Olga Bogatyrenko (14)
08. Alina Popova (14)
09. Maria Yaryomenko (13)
10. Yuliya Shpakevich (14)

The grand final will take place on 23rd September, when viewers will be able to have their own say in the eventual winner and Ukrainian representative for Bucharest 2006.