The Golden Apricot Award helps me grow up

MC Quynh Hoa is always loved by friends and colleagues because it seems like she never stops.

Reporter: In the memories of music lovers of the 8X and 9X generations, the image of MC Quynh Hoa is associated with the role of singer in the Phu Sa music group. Looking back at those days, what is the most impressive thing for you?

MC Quynh Hoa. (Photo provided by the character)

- MC QUYNH HOA: Phu Sa music group was founded in 1998, a time when the music market in Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the whole country in general was very exciting with the youth music trend with many experimental colors. We named the group Phu Sa to express the idea of ​​cultivating new creations and spreading the love of cultural roots to the same generation. On the airwaves of Vietnam Television (VTV) and Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) at that time, the audience used to listen to songs performed by Phu Sa music group such as: Vietnam brocade flower, Moon shines on good fate, Love of rice moon, Countryside soul, Homeland of three regions, Moon returns to the countryside, Passionate Phu Sa, Southern sunshine and wind...

In 2003, singer Huong Thuy left the group for personal reasons and 3 years later, singer Ngoc Loan followed her family to settle abroad. Since Phu Sa group only had one member left, I invited sisters Phuong Thuy and Phuong Tuyen to join the group to maintain its activities. Although not as vibrant and achieving outstanding achievements as the first generation of Phu Sa group, the existence of Phu Sa group later demonstrated our love and responsibility in remaining loyal to the country's music.

Not only successful as a singer, you are also known as an MC of HTV. How did the opportunity to become an MC come to you?

- It was all by chance. 30 years ago, when I was a student at the Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City, I participated in the school's art program and was "kidnapped" to be the MC. Since then, I loved this job, and after graduating and working for a few years, I decided to switch to MC. In 2009, I was honored to be voted by readers of the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper for the Mai Vang Award in the category of Most Favorite MC in the program "Thay loi muon noi" of HTV. That was the recognition that the readers of the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper and the audience gave me. Being awarded a prestigious award gave me a strong motivation to move forward.

Many years later, you were invited by the Lao Dong Newspaper to join the Mai Vang Award Art Council. What remains in you as this year's award season marks the 30-year journey?

- Very emotional. This year, I am honored to be a member of the Golden Apricot Art Council. The prestige of the award is a meaningful spring bridge so that every year when Tet comes, artists eagerly wait to participate in the festival of the profession. I myself feel proud to have owned a Golden Apricot statue in 2009, and then received the award for "Excellent Cultural and Artistic Program" during the nationwide epidemic prevention period. At that time, I established a "Volunteer Artist Group" to bring songs and singing to hospitals and field areas to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic. So many deep feelings and memories with the Golden Apricot Award.

MC Quynh Hoa (holding microphone) and artists participate in a trip back to the source with the theme " Dien Bien Phu - Epic of the Century" in November 2024

Looking back at the 30-year journey of the Mai Vang Award, I feel like it was just yesterday when many beautiful memories keep coming back, especially participating in the pre-Mai Vang Award programs, the Mai Vang Gala, bringing the award-winning artists to industrial parks, export processing zones, to workers and laborers across the country.

Your team of artist volunteers just made a trip back to the source in Dien Bien. After this trip, what did you learn for yourself?

- I am honored to bring a team of artist volunteers and more than 100 artists to participate in a trip back to the source with the theme "Dien Bien Phu - Epic of the Century" organized by the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee from November 26 to 30. The team includes singers: Le Viet Thu, Dong Trieu, Tanh Linh, Duong Phi, Thu Hien, Thien Phu, Duyen Quynh, MiHa, Thach Thao, Kim Lien, musician Tran Xuan Mai Tram, dancer Sung A Lung, Minh Trang... and many famous artists in various fields.

We performed a very meaningful program in Dien Bien City, gave gifts, and helped people after Typhoon Yagi (Typhoon No. 3) in Phuc Khanh Commune, Lao Cai Province. We also visited Lang Nu Village. The trip left me with many emotions, when the HCM City artists, in addition to their compositions to encourage people after the storm and flood to overcome the pain to build a new life, also gave them meaningful gifts.

After the achievements, are you satisfied with yourself?

- I am grateful for all the difficulties and challenges that have been given to me on my journey to becoming an MC as well as doing organizational work (Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House). All those experiences have made me more mature, more experienced and above all, still maintaining a strong passion for the job.

What is your cultural and artistic project in 2025?

- Next year, there will be many outstanding cultural events in Ho Chi Minh City and across the country to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. The Youth Cultural House will organize many cultural and artistic activities, and at the same time be a meeting place for young people in the city and across the country to exchange culture, study and share experiences.

As for the Lao Dong Newspaper, there are two major events, the Mai Vang Award to promote the results achieved from the 30th season, along with the results of the song composition campaign "The Country is Full of Joy". If there is coordination to effectively replicate these two major events, the Youth Cultural House will be a meeting place to widely spread to young audiences the compositions written about the city named after beloved Uncle Ho.

MC Quynh Hoa

MC Quynh Hoa's real name is Huynh Thi Quynh Hoa, born in 1972, currently works as Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House. She is known as an MC specializing in hosting cultural and artistic programs of HTV. Recently, she has participated as a judge in a number of programs, competitions, art festivals or press and media.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/mc-quynh-hoa-giai-mai-vang-giup-toi-truong-thanh-hon-196241130203656748.htm