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The 32-year-old competitor beat out four finalists -- soprano Eri Nakamura, 31, from Japan; Luca, 21, from Italy; bass Jan Martinik, 26, from the Czech Republic; and counter-tenor Yuriy Mynenko, 30, from Ukraine -- to win the title, as well as a $25,000 cash prize.

Shcherbachenko called the day she won the award the "happiest day" of her life.

Martinik won an $8,200 song award, while 21-year-old Italian tenor Giordano Luca took home a $3,275 Audience Prize, the BBC said.

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