Be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone.

Tran Thi Van Anh is currently a first-year student in the Vocal Department at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. She embarked on her artistic journey from a challenging beginning. From a young age, she had to mature beyond her years after losing her father, with all the family burdens falling on her hardworking mother's shoulders.

"My family wasn't well-off back then, but my mother never let my studies be interrupted. For her, my education always came first. I feel truly fortunate to have such a supportive mother," singer Van Anh shared.

Van Anh's talent and passion for music manifested themselves at a very young age. Therefore, she chose to study vocal music at the Nghe An College of Culture and Arts. After a year of study there, she decided to try her luck with the entrance exam to the Vietnam National Academy of Music. The time she took the exam coincided with the complicated Covid-19 pandemic situation. Therefore, both her preparation and the exam had to be done online.

Singer Tran Thi Van Anh won the special prize at the 28th Kyushu Music Competition - 2026. Photo provided by the subject.

She was fortunate enough to be admitted to the school with a score of 9.7 after her exam was reviewed. However, the joy came with the pressure of tuition fees in a new environment. Not wanting to become a burden on her family, she proactively sought out various part-time jobs to cover some of her expenses. Among them, she also worked as a livestream singer. This allowed her to both practice and earn extra income. Gradually, she received more small performance offers, which helped her fund her studies.

Upon entering the school, she received professional training where technique and artistic thinking were systematically honed. Under the guidance of Meritorious Artist Lan Anh, she gradually perfected her ability to control her voice, breath, and interpret musical works according to academic standards. Before competing internationally, Van Anh won first prize in the " Hanoi Singing Contest 2023". This achievement not only recognized her talent but also served as a springboard for her to confidently try her hand in more competitive environments.

A notable point in Van Anh's musical journey is her decision to shift from folk music to opera. This is not just a change in genre, but also a complete restructuring of her technique and performance philosophy. While folk music tends towards simplicity and naturalness, opera demands high precision, powerful inner strength, tight control of sound, and a dramatic and expressive style.

To make this transition, the young singer received support from many lecturers and experts, such as Meritorious Artist Lan Anh, who provided guidance throughout; Dr. and pianist Tran Trang, who helped perfect her performances; and professional advice and encouragement from Associate Professor, Dr., and Meritorious Artist Tan Nhan and Dr. and singer Thu Ha. This collaboration created a solid foundation for a young vocalist to venture into the wider world and challenge herself with one of the most difficult genres in vocal music.

Reap the rewards when you dare to change.

A significant milestone in Van Anh's journey was her participation in the 28th Kyushu Music Competition - 2026, held in Japan. This international music competition, with a history of nearly 30 years, attracts a large number of contestants from many countries. In her performance, she chose to perform "Song to the Moon." With her confident demeanor and excellent control of both technique and emotion, honed through meticulous training, she received high praise from the judging panel and won the special prize in the student category of the competition.

As the person directly leading the delegation to Japan to participate in the competition, Associate Professor, Doctor, and Meritorious Artist Tan Nhan expressed: “I am very proud that my student performed well in the competition, bringing honor to the country. The moment the words 'Vietnam' were announced on the international stage moved me deeply. I hope that Van Anh will continue to strive to reach the standards of a classical vocal artist and stand shoulder to shoulder with international peers.”

Beyond just the results, participating in international music competitions has helped Van Anh accumulate stage experience, broaden her perspective, and strengthen her belief in her chosen path. The singer shared: “The most special thing is that I dared to step out of my comfort zone, dared to believe in what I would achieve. This award is not only a source of pride for me, but also an important milestone to continue striving and improving myself on my musical journey ahead. In the future, I want to incorporate the spirit of traditional Vietnamese music into classical singing techniques. This combination needs serious research, based on a solid technical foundation, an understanding of the language and folk melodies, rather than just a superficial blend. I hope that artists will become ‘guides,’ helping audiences understand and appreciate classical music in a more accessible way.”

Van Anh's journey from a folk singer to conquering the international opera stage demonstrates the proper path to maturity for a young artist; it also clearly reflects the aspirations of the young generation of Vietnamese artists who are actively striving to reach the highest artistic standards and gradually contributing to building a new position for Vietnamese music in the global integration process.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/suc-tre-cua-am-nhac-han-lam-viet-nam-1036012