Yuriy Vaschuk

Teo
Teo at the Eurovision Song Contest, 2014
Background information
Native name	Юрий Алексеевич Ващук
Birth name	Yuriy Alexeyevich Vashchuk
Born	(1983-01-24) 24 January 1983 (age 34) Khidry, Byelorussian SSR, USSR
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter television presenter
Years active	2000–present
Associated acts	Alyona Lanskaya

Yuriy Alexeyevich Vashchuk (Russian: Юрий Алексеевич Ващук, Yuriy Alekseyevich Vashchuk, Belarusian: Юрый Аляксеевіч Вашчук, Juryj Aliaksiejevič Vaščuk; born 24 January 1983), better known by his stage name Teo, is a Belarusian singer, songwriter, and television presenter.

Teo showed passion for music early in his childhood. He won his first music competition as the winner of the international contest "Scilla", and won his first major competition as the winner of the television program "Zornaya Rostan". Teo won the Belarusian national song contest and represented his country at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Cheesecake". He ultimately finished 16th, receiving a total of 43 points.

Teo was born as Yuriy Vashchuk in Khidry, Brest, in 1983, as the son of school teacher, Alexey Vashchuk, and culture worker, Tania Vashchuk. In his childhood he developed a passion and interest for music. He received professional music education at the Grodno College of Art and later at the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. In 2000, he was invited to work at the National Concert Orchestra of Belarus.

Teo won his first music competition as the winner of the international contest "Scilla", and won his first major competition as the winner of the television program "Zornaya Rostan". He works with many foreign and Belarusian musicians as arranger and composer, and, together with L. Shirin, wrote music for Russian movies. He also created the Belarusian television show "Forward to the Past" and was involved in its musical theme and design. In 2011, Teo, then performing as Yuriy Vashchuk, decided to get a stage name, which he selected via Google search. "I clicked 'T' in Google search and saw it immediately. I like[d] it instantly, and that was it.", he explains. In between 2011-2013, he received a series of Belarusian awards, including "Song of Belarus", "Best Arranger" and "Discovery of the Year".