Master Phan Nhat Dung, director Kim Loan, 20 years of perseverance with Don ca tai tu

Mr. Pham Huu Phuoc Huy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Palace of Culture and Labor, presented flowers to congratulate Master Phan Nhat Dung and director Kim Loan.

On the evening of December 29, the "Southern Fragrance and Beauty" Amateur - Cai Luong Club of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Culture Palace held a ceremony to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Artists Phan Nhut Dung and Kim Loan were moved to express their pride that this artistic cradle has been operating steadily for 20 years, contributing to nurturing many talented artists and Cai Luong theater for Ho Chi Minh City.

In the early years of its establishment, when the late Professor Tran Van Khe was still alive, he attended many meetings, activities, and specialized performances of the Club.

He had a lot of affection and trust for Master - Artisan Phan Nhat Dung and director - Artisan Kim Loan, two core members, and created all conditions for the Club to operate in an orderly manner and achieve high efficiency.

Master Phan Nhat Dung presents a souvenir program to members of the Tai Tu - Cai Luong Club "Southern Fragrance"

The members of the Executive Board from 2003 to 2023 are divided into many stages: the late Meritorious Artist Cong Thanh (singer Trieu Loc's maternal grandfather) and the Executive Board including: Master Phan Nhat Dung, Teacher Nguyen Thi Loan (Kim Loan - Deputy Executive Board), artist Phan Minh Duc (Deputy Executive Board).

After a few years, there was a change when artist Huynh Hai Long joined the board of directors and Ms. Tran Thi Kim Hai joined as Vice Chairman.

Currently, the board of directors consists of three members: Master - Artisan Phan Nhat Dung (Chairman), Director - Artisan Kim Loan - Deputy Head and journalist Nguyen Thi Dieu Hien (Deputy Head).

Actors Toan Huynh and Yen Linh perform at the 20th anniversary celebration of the "Southern Fragrance and Beauty" Amateur - Cai Luong Club

Master - Artisan Phan Nhut Dung said that the club was established in December 2003. Initially, there were only 15 members. Up to now, there are more than 35 members attached to the club.

During the 10 years (from 2013 to 2023), the Club has participated and contributed a lot to the Stage, Amateur, and Reformed Opera programs at the City's Labor Culture Palace and the city's cultural and artistic movements. The City's Labor Culture Palace's Board of Directors, colleagues, and experts highly appreciated its performance and training capabilities.

From left to right: Dr. Mai My Duyen, Director Kim Loan, artist Khanh Van and Master Phan Nhat Dung

"The club has maintained the Tai Tu - Cai Luong class, each course lasts 2 months, and has so far organized 40 elementary courses and 30 advanced courses. The club organizes regular weekly activities on Saturday afternoons and monthly exchange performances, along with a number of clubs in Ho Chi Minh City at the Labor Culture Palace hall such as: Binh Thanh Club, Nha Be Club, District 10 Club, Binh Chanh Club...

The club performs quarterly, with four performances a year at Hall B of the City's Palace of Culture and Labor, introducing Tai Tu - Cai Luong songs and excerpts performed by members. In addition, every year the club participates in serving the New Year and the dramatization program "Dong Da - Quang Trung Victory" according to the plan of the Palace of Culture and Labor" - Master - Artisan Phan Nhut Dung shared.

From left to right: Artist Minh Duc, director Kim Loan and Meritorious Artist Phuong Hau

Artist Kim Loan said that under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Labor Culture Palace, the Club has organized 6 festivals with the theme "Southern Fragrance" on the genre of Don Ca Tai Tu at the Labor Culture Palace of the City.

In 2023, the Club participated in the Karaoke Festival with 4 performances and won second prize and 2 consolation prizes. In 2013, the Club participated in the "Golden Lotus" award held at the Voice of the People of Ho Chi Minh City (VOH) and won 1 solo gold medal.

The Club and some of its members were also invited by the City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to participate in the "Don Ca Tai Tu" Festival and the closing ceremony of the Festival in Bac Lieu in 2014 organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This time, the Club was awarded: Certificate of Merit from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for the collective and 2 individual Certificates of Merit for outstanding achievements in preserving and promoting the art of Southern Traditional Music, contributing to the preservation of national cultural identity.

Guests and the "Southern Flavor" Amateur - Cai Luong Club on its 20th anniversary (Photo: Toan Huynh)

With a long history of activities, the Club has participated in performances in districts and counties in the city and the Western provinces. Following the direction of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, the Club has participated in teaching training courses on ĐCTT for new rural districts organized by the City Cultural Center from 2014 to present.

After two strokes, director Kim Loan overcame her illness to continue accompanying the club. (In the photo, she and artist Minh Duc sing a duet of traditional songs)

Some members participate in the city's annual art program "On the Wharf - Under the Boat" held at Tau Hu Canal, District 8. From 2019 to 2023, the Club participated in two "Vietnamese Folk Culture and Arts Festivals" held at Nguyen Hue Walking Street.

Some core members of the Club participated in the 6th "Golden Lotus" Award Festival - 2023 organized by Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of UNESCO officially honoring the Southern Vietnamese Don Ca Tai Tu art form into the list of representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

On this occasion, the Club's Board of Directors was invited to participate in the Jury of the 6th "Golden Lotus" Award Festival - 2023.

In this year's Club, 2 members received certificates of merit from the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee among the list of 9 individuals in the whole city to be awarded this time. They are Master - Artisan Phan Nhut Dung and Director - Artisan Kim Loan.

Dr. Mai My Duyen, who attended, said that there has never been a club that has connected many artisans of different generations and passed on their profession as persistently as "Southern Fragrance".

"I hope that from the achievements of 20 years of dedication, the Club will create many new milestones in teaching the profession, and at the same time build new forms of performance and exchange, bringing Southern Vietnamese traditional opera and reformed art closer to young audiences" - Dr. Mai My Duyen said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thac-si-phan-nhut-dung-dao-dien-kim-loan-20-nam-ben-bi-voi-don-ca-tai-tu-cai-luong-196231230105239632.htm