A contestant performing in a piano contest organized by the Hue Academy of Music. Photo: Hue Academy of Music

For the first time, Vietnam's Piano Got Talent contest launched by Hue Academy of Music has become a playground gathering many participants. The contest was divided into two categories: professional and non-professional.

The professional category included candidates who study music at professional music training institutions or have piano qualifications with internationally recognized certificates. This category did not discriminate by age. Meanwhile, the amateur category was divided into four age groups: under 10 years old, from 10 - 13 years old, from 14 - 17 years old, and from 18 years old and above.

The Organizing Committee officially received preliminary entries on May 15. Up to now, many videos have been emailed to the Organizing Committee and then publicly posted on the contest fan page. According to the Organizing Committee, the preliminary round will close on July 25. The entries are then evaluated and voted by the jury based on these criteria: the ability to perceive music, demeanor, playing posture, confidence on stage, and the contestant's prospects. Excellent contestants will attend the knockout round and the finals at Hue Academy of Music in early August.

The competition's jury are leading experts in the field of piano, including Mr. Ta Quang Dong - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Ms. Ha Mai Huong - Director of Hue Academy of Music, Ms. Trieu Tu My - Vietnam National Academy of Music, Mr. Truong Ngoc Chien - Hue Academy of Music, Ms. Eun Young Joo - Ho Chi Minh City Academy of Music, Ms. Dang Ngoc Giang Quan - Ho Chi Minh City Academy of Music.

Ms. Ha Mai Huong - Director of Hue Academy of Music and Head of the Competition Organizing Committee said that piano is a healthy subject that nurtures beautiful emotions and can support soft skills training and children’s intellectual development from an early age. Therefore, as a place of music education, the academy always wants to organize competitions to help promote young people's piano talents.

Hue Academy of Music has successfully organized previous piano festival seasons with great interest from candidates in the Central region and nationwide. Since then, this year, the academy has wanted to expand its scale and create opportunities for many contestants to participate, creating an interesting competition for the summer of 2024.

“The competition is a playground to find and nurture young piano talents in Vietnam, providing a sophisticated and classy stage for all amateur and professional contestants, as well as creating opportunities to exchange, learn, and interact with other contestants nationwide," Ms. Huong shared.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung - Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee hopes this year's competition will be a useful playground, providing an environment for young people to interact and meet their peers, and feel free to express their passion. Therefore, we will not be too academically heavy but will create very attractive game rules, allowing contestants to freely choose their favorite works, and can even choose works of their own composition. Besides the criteria given to contestants, Mr. Dung hopes that the prestige and professionalism of the jury team as well as attractive prizes will make Vietnam's Piano Got Talent a useful and interesting annual playground.

In addition to cash and in-kind prizes, with the desire to nurture and foster musical talents from the competition, winning candidates in the final round will be considered for direct admission to the Intermediate program of Hue Academy of Music.

Story and photo: NHAT MINH