Composer Nguyen Van Chung:

The "Musician of the Year" award at the 20th Dedication Awards in 2026, along with numerous other music awards over the years, is not only a recognition but also a motivation for musician Nguyen Van Chung to continue his creative journey, which he has persistently pursued for over two decades: writing songs that focus on the community and spread love for family, homeland, and country. Sharing his joy after these awards, he also clarified his motivation for songwriting and his new plans for the future.

Composer Nguyen Van Chung

- How did the musician feel when he received the Musician of the Year award at the 20th Dedication Awards?

- I feel very honored that the Dedication Award is a coveted award for all artists. The very name of the award speaks to the most important goal of an artist: to contribute to music , to the community, and to society.

For over ten years, since learning about the Dedication Award, I've considered it a goal to strive for. Therefore, when I held the Dedication Award trophy in my hands, I was deeply moved. I believe that achieving something meaningful requires sacrificing other values, and for me, the word "dedication" is worth sacrificing.

- What does this award mean to the path you have chosen?

- I feel like I'm receiving an award for all 23 years of my songwriting career. What I've achieved today is a goal I set a long time ago, and it took a long journey to reach it. I persevered for 8 years to write 300 children's songs, self-funding the printing of books, creating audio and animated versions, and promoting those songs. In recent years, I've written more about my homeland and country. There were times when I didn't receive awards or immediate recognition, but I still wanted to pursue it because it gives meaning to my life. The Dedication Award and the awards I've received so far are recognition, an honor, and also a motivation for me to continue contributing to future projects.

- Did the success of the song "Continuing the Story of Peace" in 2025 make you even more confident in pursuing a musical path that is connected to community responsibility?

- That song is a very special milestone for me. Previously, I wrote many love songs, based on my own emotions. But the longer I've been involved in this profession, the more I realize that songwriters don't just compose for personal gain. Besides leaving their mark on the artistic path, songwriters also have a responsibility to write about things that honor good values. Last year saw many major national events, and I'm very happy that songs about homeland and country were so well received. I always hope that these themes will be more present in musical life and reach young people. Music needs a balance of themes to enrich spiritual life.

- We understand you are currently taking your first semester exams in the Music Education program at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music. Having composed music for over 20 years, authoring more than 700 songs, and winning numerous prestigious music awards, why did you decide to become a university student at the age of 42?

- I decided to take the entrance exam and study Music Education at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music because, for me, after more than 20 years of composing, this is the right time to continue my musical journey with a more solid foundation. I still think that, starting from a young age with just a few chords and reaching my current position and achieving these results, is a beautiful journey, an unbelievable miracle. But the further I go, the more I realize that the knowledge and experience accumulated along the way need to be systematized and strengthened from the ground up to create a more solid foundation, facilitating longer strides in the future.

I also really enjoy visiting schools to interact, share, and inspire young people. To do that better, I need more pedagogical skills. This is a new and essential skill at this stage, as I want music to go beyond just songwriting and spread its value through education and inspiration. A degree in a relevant field would also partially compensate for my shortcomings, helping me to be more confident in the demands of the profession.

More importantly, I love this songwriting path so much that I always seriously dedicate all my heart and soul to it. I always think that at each point in time, with the changing trends in music, artists need to learn new things to constantly innovate. I want to go further, write more, and be more diverse, so learning is essential.

As I prepared for exams and began my studies, I understood more clearly why I needed to study music history and learn about the world's great composers. Looking at their works and contributions to the music industry, I suddenly found role models to strive for, a bigger dream to pursue every day. For me, becoming a student at this age isn't about starting over, but about continuing my creative journey with a greater aspiration.

Besides studying, can the musician share any new musical plans for this year to spread love for his homeland and country?

- I have specific plans. But now it's not simply about writing songs and waiting for them to spread, because the music scene changes very quickly, so I need a special strategy to make my aspirations more effective. I hope this year I will connect with more artists in different genres and styles. If each person contributes their own unique color, the message I want to convey through the music will be clearer and spread more widely.

I will continue to write things that are beneficial to the community and society, contributing to fostering love for my homeland and country, and honoring beautiful values.

- We sincerely thank composer Nguyen Van Chung!

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhac-si-nguyen-van-chung-giai-thuong-la-vinh-du-va-cung-la-dong-luc-de-toi-tiep-tuc-cong-hien-747983.html