The Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with Vietnam Musicians’ Association and other units organized the “National Musical Instrument Concert and Solo Competition - 2020”.

The Competition attracted a large number of registrations with 650 competitors and 35 art troupes nationwide. The Competition will be broadcast online by the Vietnam Performing Arts channel on Youtube. This will also be the first time the Department of Performing Arts has broadcast the national professional competition on Youtube.

Performance of ching Kram (Bamboo gong) “Mưa đá” (Rain mixed with hails) (Photo: Hoang Gia)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to organize the event at five locations across the country to ensure epidemic prevention and control. It will take place in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province (at the Provincial Cultural Center during September 18 and 19); Ho Chi Minh City (at Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory from September 21 to 23); Thanh Hoa city, Thanh Hoa province (at Thanh Hoa Traditional Arts Theatre during September 25 and 26); Vinh Yen City, Vinh Phuc province (at Vinh Phuc Arts Theatre on September 28), and Hanoi (at Vietnam Cheo Theatre from September 30 to October 2).

The “National Musical Instrument Concert and Solo Competition - 2020” aims to honor, preserve and promote the values of Vietnamese folk music, contributing to building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity.

This is an opportunity for artists performing on traditional musical instruments at art units, lecturers, students, and students who are teaching and learning traditional musical instruments at physical art training institutions to show their personal abilities; exchange and  gain experience in art activities; and preserve and promote the quintessence of Vietnamese traditional music. Since then, policies on management, training, fostering talents and promoting traditional music forms in the new period are proposed.

The Competition is divided into 4 tables: Concerts for ethnic theater units; Concerts for music and dance units, Academies of Music, Conservatories; Solo for artists of national theater units; Solo for artists from music and dance units, Academies of Music, Conservatories and other non-public artists.

The closing and awarding ceremony will take place at Vietnam Cheo Theatre at 1 Giang Van Minh street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, at 9:00 on October 4.