The 12-year-old boy "awakens" the Rice Drum.

(NLĐO) - From the folk music of the Mekong Delta, Le Nhat Anh brings "Trong Com" (Rice Drum) to the big stage with his innocent voice and creative rendition of a folk song full of unique character.

At just 12 years old, Le Nhat Anh is one of the rare young talents to participate in the final round of the "Vietnamese Melody of the Moonlight" program. Amidst a highly professional competition, which brought together nearly 400 performances from junior and senior high schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Nhat Anh stood out not for his sophisticated technique, but for his pure love of folk songs and Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera), and his aspiration to preserve Vietnamese culture through familiar and everyday things.

Creativity to preserve the spirit of tradition

Her performance of the song "Trong Com" (Rice Drum) quickly made an impression and earned her third prize in the competition. Not only did she accurately portray the familiar spirit of the song, but Nhat Anh also boldly added a verse, creating a fresh version while still preserving the folk essence.

Nhat Anh's folk song helps "Trong Com" avoid being "simplistic" when performed on a large stage, while also opening up a more intimate approach to traditional music .

Behind that natural charm lies a family cultural foundation nurtured from a very young age. Born in Can Tho City, Nhat Anh grew up surrounded by the sounds of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) and folk songs of the Mekong Delta. On weekends and during the summer, she would accompany her mother to visit her grandparents, listening to her grandmother lull her to sleep with familiar folk songs and melodies.

Sharing about this, Nhat Anh's mother, Thuong Dao, said: "Music came to Nhat Anh very naturally. She often lulled him to sleep with folk songs and Cai Luong (traditional Vietnamese opera) from the Mekong Delta. That environment helped him gradually absorb and develop a love for music without even realizing it." This "absorption" helped Nhat Anh not see folk music as something unfamiliar or merely for performance, but as a part of his memories, a familiar emotion brought to the stage.

The idea of ​​reimagining the song "Trống Cơm" (Rice Drum) stemmed from a childlike yet serious concern. Nhật Anh realized that the song only had one verse, and performing it exactly as it was in the original version wouldn't be enough to make an impact in the final round. Following suggestions from his teachers and family, he sat down with them and added a rhyme explaining the rice drum – a folk instrument deeply connected to Vietnamese culture.

For Nhat Anh, creativity is about telling the story of Vietnamese culture in a way that is most relatable to her age group.

Overcoming health barriers

The journey to the final night wasn't entirely smooth. Before the competition, Nhat Anh suffered from tonsillitis, her voice was sometimes hoarse, and her health was unstable. Her family chose a gentle approach, avoiding pressure, helping her maintain the most relaxed state of mind when stepping onto the stage.

Nhat Anh recalled the training process: "There were times when my voice was hoarse and I was tired, but I told myself that since I had made it to the finals, I had to try my best." She took advantage of breaks, after school, and even the shortest moments of the day to practice singing. The part where she performed with her friends was only focused on during the two weekends before the competition night.

Family has been a strong support system, accompanying and caring for Nhat Anh throughout his journey in pursuing music.

As a young contestant, Nhat Anh didn't put much pressure on herself regarding technical skills. According to her mother, this actually became an advantage. "Because she's young, she sings very naturally, stemming from genuine feelings for the song, without being constrained. That touches the hearts of the audience and also aligns with the program's criteria," said Ms. Thuong Dao.

On stage, Nhat Anh wasn't trying to be a "professional child singer," but rather a boy telling a story of Vietnamese culture through his voice. The moment he remembers most is when he finished reciting the rhyme and sang the line "Vietnamese culture will forever reach further," to the applause of nearly 1,000 spectators.

Alongside her artistic pursuits, Nhat Anh has maintained excellent academic performance. For many years, she was an outstanding primary school student at Binh Tri 2 Primary School (Ho Chi Minh City), and she also received the title of "Good Child of Uncle Ho" at the Ho Chi Minh City level for five consecutive years. Her family unanimously prioritizes academics, viewing singing as a way to nurture her emotions, replacing passive entertainment.

Currently, Nhat Anh is a member of the Binh Tan District Children's House, regularly participating in cultural and artistic activities and has won many awards while performing at the Ninh Kieu District Children's House (Can Tho City).

Nhat Anh's journey has been nurtured by love, without expectations or pressure, so that every time he sings, he remains a 12-year-old boy singing from the heart, just as his grandmother advised him before he stepped onto the stage: "You just need to sing from the heart, you don't need to be perfect."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cau-be-12-tuoi-danh-thuc-trong-com-196260130101412373.htm