Opening of the 2025 National Expanded Music Festival

On the evening of October 30, the Vietnam Musicians Association, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and other units jointly organized the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Music Festival with the theme "Music Convergence and Spread" at the Southern Military Theater.

Presenting souvenir flags to units participating in the festival. (Photo: LINH BAO)

The program is a practical activity to celebrate the success of Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Congress of the Party; to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China (1950-2025), and to launch the "Vietnam-China Cultural Exchange Year" to strengthen cooperation in the field of music between the two countries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, Major General, musician Nguyen Duc Trinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians' Association, said that the 2025 National Music Festival is a meeting place to exchange composing experiences and musical exchanges between musicians who are members of the Vietnam Musicians' Association and talented solo artists and golden voices.

Major General, musician Nguyen Duc Trinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians Association, delivered the opening speech.

Through that, the festival will introduce new musical works, young faces and good voices.

"These are decisive factors for today's and future professional activities, contributing to the revival and successful construction of an advanced Vietnamese musical culture imbued with national identity," musician Nguyen Duc Trinh emphasized.

The themes of the works and performances participating in the festival focus on reflecting the Party, Uncle Ho, the current cause of building and protecting our Fatherland, love for the homeland, country, traditional Vietnamese culture and in the era of national growth; culture and international friendship.

The 2025 National Expanded Music Festival includes two areas: Music Works Festival; Vietnamese Voice Festival and Instrument Solo (Performance Festival).

Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians Association Nguyen Duc Trinh presented flowers to members of the festival's Art Council.

Works participating in the festival are new works composed in 2024 and 2025 by members of the Vietnam Musicians' Association from branches and musician groups nationwide that have not participated in any competitions of central organizations, departments and branches. Genres of works participating in the festival include songs or ensembles, instrumental solos (duration not exceeding 7 minutes/work).

For the festival of performances by singers and artists: The genre of the performance participating in the festival is a song or a solo musical instrument. The work performed in the festival is a Vietnamese work chosen by the singer or artist with high technical content. Artists participating in the festival are members or non-members of the Vietnam Musicians Association and are selected by the association to be introduced to participate.

Competition performance of the Military Association unit in Ho Chi Minh City.

For the Vietnam-China Symphony Music performance, the program "Vietnam-China Friendship Symphony" is performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) with Vietnamese and Chinese artists and singers.

According to the Organizing Committee, there are over 600 musicians and artists participating in this year's festival from 38 Vietnamese Musicians Associations from provinces and cities across the country, with more than 185 performances in 7 competition programs.

Competition entry "New city on the east coast" (author Nguyen Van Hien; performed by choir) by Saigon Association unit.

At the opening ceremony, the Organizing Committee announced the Festival's Art Council, including: People's Artist, musician Nguyen Quang Vinh, Director of the Youth Music Center, Vietnam Musicians Association, Chairman of the Council; musician Tran Nhat Duong, Head of the Inspection Committee of the Vietnam Musicians Association, member; People's Artist Ta Minh Tam, member; musician Giang Son, member; musician Hoai An, member.

This year's festival award structure includes A Prize and B Prize: for musical works participating in the festival; Gold Medal and Silver Medal: for performances by artists, singers and ensembles.

The festival takes place from October 29 to November 2.

LINH BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khai-mac-lien-hoan-am-nhac-toan-quoc-mo-rong-nam-2025-post919449.html