The Military Region 9 Mass Arts Festival is held every five years. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival could not take place as planned in 2020. After 10 years of waiting, the 20th Military Region 9 Cultural Festival returned with the opening night on the evening of November 10.

Leaders of Military Region 9 awarded units participating in the festival.

“Determining the meaning and importance of the festival, the Party Committee and the Military Region 9 Command have paid attention to leading and directing agencies and units to thoroughly grasp, develop plans and programs, select quality performances with artistic value and profound ideological content, and organize rehearsals to participate in the festival. With profound meaning and careful preparation, the mass art troupes have "burned" themselves out in each performance, bringing unique, attractive, and emotional art programs,” affirmed Major General Huynh Van Ngon, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 9, Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee.

The traditional duet "Finding comrades" by the Military Command of Dong Thap province won the A prize at the festival.

With the theme “Song of the march”, the festival gathered nearly 700 cadres, choreographers, singers, actors, musicians and technical staff (557 extras, including 84 actors from sister units). The troupes brought to the festival 103 of the most outstanding performances of various art forms, with 35 singing and dancing performances; 21 solo and group singing performances; 20 independent dance performances; 11 skits; 4 reformed opera performances; 6 traditional singing performances; 6 performances of traditional and modern musical instruments.

According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Dinh Cong, Head of the Propaganda Department, Political Department of Military Region 9, Deputy Head of the Festival Jury, the programs and performances closely followed the theme "Song of the Military March", including 13 works praising the glorious Party and great Uncle Ho; 13 performances on the theme of revolutionary war; 28 performances praising the heroic Army; 24 performances praising the homeland and the country's innovation and development; 13 performances reflecting the activities of performing military and defense tasks of the Military Region 9's armed forces.

In addition, there were 19 performances of Army songs, traditional songs of the Military Region; 45 self-composed performances by non-professional authors inside and outside the Army. Many performances reflected the current social life, reflecting the psychology and feelings of officers, soldiers and people; mentioning and reflecting current issues quite successfully on the festival stage.

Performance by the mass art troupe of the General Staff of Military Region 9.

“In particular, the festival recognized the creativity in composing, mixing, arranging; choreography, staging of many performances and programs, along with the investment in costumes and props of mass art troupes, especially the application of AI technology; graphic design, image, and video illustrations on LED screens in accordance with the artistic intentions of the performance programs... It is the sound and image effects that have created positive impressions on the audience; the meticulous care for each actor and each performance has contributed significantly to the success of each performance program and the entire festival,” said Lieutenant Colonel Tran Dinh Cong.

Instrumental performance of Division 330.

Taking place at the end of the year, despite being very busy with work, the units still upheld their sense of responsibility, contributing significantly to the success of the festival.

Lieutenant Colonel Quan Van Ngoc, Deputy Chief of Politics of Division 330 (Military Region 9) shared: “With the theme “The Heroic Spirit of the South”, after nearly two months of preparation and practice, the Division participated in the festival with 5 performances including: Instrumental ensemble; 2 singing and dancing performances; Cai Luong performance and the independent dance performance “Buddhist Army”. Thanks to good preparation, the Division was awarded by the Organizing Committee as “Unit with excellent program”; 3 performances won A prize; 2 performances won Third prize…”.

Performance of Limited Liability Company - One member 622 participating in the competition.

Before the successful performances of the mass art troupes, the festival's jury evaluated each performance very objectively to select the best performances and programs to award prizes. "The authorities and subcommittees of the Organizing Committee closely coordinated, closely followed the plan and the actual situation, and managed all activities of the festival in a unified, tight and highly effective manner. We did not receive any complaints or questions from the mass art troupes as well as agencies, units and audiences," said Colonel Mai Van Hoa, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of Military Region 9, Head of the festival's jury.

In addition to the achieved results, the organizing committee also frankly admitted that the festival still has some limitations that the mass art troupes need to learn from, such as: There are still cases of confusion in determining the correct art form and performance method, especially for independent dance and instrumental ensembles; there are performances that do not clearly distinguish between the creativity of stylized artistic costumes and regular military uniforms, which leads to improper wearing. The stage plays are still limited in the use of music, reducing the appeal of the stage details and each role; some skits have too simple and unattractive plots, which has affected the quality of the performance programs of the units.

Singing and dancing performance of Division 330 participating in the competition.
Scene of the festival's closing ceremony and awards ceremony.

With careful preparation and seriousness in art, the Festival The 20th Military Region 9 Mass Art Festival in 2025 has ended successfully. This is an opportunity for mass art troupes and twinned units to summarize and evaluate the cultural and artistic movement at the grassroots level; an event for officers and soldiers to demonstrate their talents and creativity in art forms, continuing to enrich the spiritual life of the unit.

At the same time, this is also a bridge for art troupes to exchange and learn from each other's experiences, contributing to improving the quality of mass cultural and artistic activities, building a good, healthy and rich cultural environment.

Article and photos: QUANG DUC - PHUONG NHAT

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/lien-hoan-nghe-thuat-quan-chung-llvt-quan-khu-9-chay-het-minh-trong-tung-tiet-muc-1012083