Spreading personal values
At the Young Artist Friendship Festival - YAFF Da Nang 2025, which took place in June, there was one young person who particularly impressed me.
As a performer, host, and stage coordinator, connecting over 300 young artists with renowned artists and music instructors from 11 countries and territories worldwide, Hugo Sanchez Barroso Nguyen stood on stage with confidence, poise, and shone in the way Hugo himself had cultivated.
Born in Spain, Hugo moved to Da Nang with his family at the age of four. This was also when Hugo began pursuing a professional piano career. To date, Hugo Sanchez Barroso Nguyen has achieved many remarkable accomplishments (Third Prize in the Piano Solo category at the International Student Competition in North Carolina, USA; First Prize at the IMPAF 2024 Competition in Bali, Indonesia...).
Hugo said that, on his journey participating in competitions or performing in many countries around the world , what he is most proud of is being able to share his values through music. These values have been formed and nurtured over many years of living and absorbing the rich cultural and artistic identity of the Vietnamese people.
“In the context of globalization, young artists are not only performers but also cultural ambassadors. Music helps young people create and spread connecting values deep within, from shared passion for art to shared emotions and a shared spirit of integration, forming a civilized, modern, profound, and mutually supportive youth community that thrives together,” Hugo expressed.
With an open mind and the ability to seize every opportunity, Hugo charted his own path to success. And then, opportunities followed one another, small ones giving rise to larger ones.
Hugo observed: “The path of music has helped me discover myself, connect with myself, with the world, and with many broader, better things. For example, how I found the opportunity to participate in a global young leaders' forum while performing at a music event in Thailand; how music has led me to many interesting roles such as event organizer, marketing, logistics, English teacher, drama teacher, and meeting many valuable friends and mentors…”
Global connectivity space
YAFF Da Nang 2025 is a platform with the mission of connecting young global artistic talents in a multicultural exchange space, jointly organized by Youth Ambassadors Singapore and Mun Art Academy Da Nang, with the sponsorship of many reputable educational and artistic organizations in the region.
This is a space where young artists from many countries can share their personal stories, creative inspiration, and the unique characteristics of their home cultures. Through performances and workshops, they not only improve their professional skills but also learn to understand and respect cultural diversity.
International artist Hang Nguyen - Artistic Director of Mun Art Academy - brought YAFF to Da Nang and served as the program's overall director. She has dedicated her entire musical journey to nurturing young talents and persistently demonstrating that music is not only an art form but also a tool for connecting people and cultures.
Music is not just about technique, but also about emotion, breaking down all barriers. At YAFF 2025, artists from Vietnam and Singapore collaborated on a performance combining traditional Vietnamese instruments such as the zither, the pipa, and the piano, creating a unique show that was both modern and deeply traditional. This experience helped them realize the immense value of music in connecting and resonating with each other. They not only learned how to play music but also how to listen and respect each other's stories. That is the core value of cultural exchange.
Improving the quality of community art and guiding young artists from Da Nang to the world stage is the organizer's aspiration. "With its reputation as a 'livable city' and a cultural and tourism hub of Central Vietnam, Da Nang has great potential to create an ideal space for young artists to learn, interact, and shine alongside the global art and music community," emphasized Ms. Hang Nguyen.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/am-nhac-ke-chuyen-ket-noi-3298845.html
![[Image] National conference summarizing one year of operation of the overall organizational model of the political system, the three-tiered government model.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/07/01/1782882811691_ndo_br_1-jpg.webp)
