After completing her degree in Music Pedagogy at Hue University of Arts, Ms. Phuong chose to stay in her hometown, inspiring generations of students with her love of music.
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| Musician Thuy Phuong (second from the left) receiving the Third Prize in the songwriting competition “Song of Unity” |
Born in a family with no artistic background, Ms. Thuy Phuong has been passionate about organ keys since childhood. In 10th grade, she fell in love with the guitar and quickly mastered the instrument. Today, in addition to teaching at school, she also runs classes in piano, guitar, and vocal training for students of all ages, from children as young as 4 to elders in their sixties. For her, music is not just about notes, but a seed that nurtures the soul. In every lesson, she not only imparts skills but also conveys love for her homeland and country through songs and stories about Vietnamese culture and people.
Until 2020 when Thuy Phuong began writing songs, for a very simple reason that during the school’s festivals and events, students had very few new songs to perform, thus she started writing music, creating songs specifically for those occasions, such as the songs for children with gentle chords and rhythms that are easy to sing, easy to remember, and suited to the spirit of school age. Those first compositions quietly spread and were quietly recognized, not only helping students develop a deeper love for music but also awakening in them a sense of pride in their school, hometown, and country.
Also in the same year, for the very first time, she entered a children’s songwriting competition and won the First Prize. Musician Van Dinh, a judge of the competition, came directly to her school to record and encourage her to join Hue City Music Association. After becoming a member of the association, even as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she continued composing without pause. Her songs about pandemic prevention were not somber; on the contrary, they carried a cheerful tone, spreading positive energy and were warmly received by a great number of listeners. For her, music is also a kind of spiritual medicine that helps people stay strong through challenges. 2 years later, she won the Second Prize in the songwriting competition themed “I Love Hue.”
2024 marked a major turning point when she was admitted to Vietnam Musicians Association. In the same year, she received a Category C prize at the Ancient Capital Literature and Arts Awards and won the Third Prize in the songwriting campaign “Song of Unity” organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television and Vietnam Musicians Association (the contest had no First Prize). Her works during this period were not only artistic creations but also messages of solidarity, faith, and a deep attachment to the love for the Fatherland.
Recently, she has been one of 10 singers and musicians selected to join the delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in visiting Truong Sa island district and the DK1 platform.
On the night of her stop at Sinh Ton Island, moved by the emotions and circumstances of the young soldiers in their late 18s and early 20s, she composed the song “Truong Sa - Land of Memories” in just one night. Musician Xuan Minh helped with the arrangement and recording directly on the ship. On the next day, the song was performed for the first time before the soldiers and residents on the island and it received the special resonance and a heartfelt response. The song touched listeners’ hearts with its deep reflection on the sacred meaning of the word “Fatherland.”
From the small classroom where the sound of instruments fills the afternoons to the ship braving the waves to Truong Sa, Thuy Phuong’s music has always carried a common thread, that is the love for her homeland, for people, and for the Fatherland. Her achievements serve as motivation, helping her overcome difficulties and persevere in composing and teaching. For her, music is not just a profession, but a mission. Every song, every lesson is an opportunity to sow the seeds of love for music, so that one day, they may grow into a love for the homeland in the hearts of listeners.