From student stage to prestigious Yale scholarship: The journey of Le Dieu My

Yale University and prestigious scholarships

Yale University is a school with a long history of development, belonging to the Ivy League group, currently ranked in the top 5 leading universities in the United States. The school has trained five generations of US Presidents including William Howard Taft, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In particular, the David Geffen School of Drama under Yale is considered one of the leading centers for training in the performing arts in the world.

The Pierre-André Salim Scholarship was established in 2007 to honor 2009 alumni Pierre-André Salim. The scholarship will cover all tuition and living expenses for three years for the awarded student. What is special is that this scholarship is only awarded to one new student each year with many strict conditions.

Le Dieu My's artistic journey

(Photo: Rocco Ho)

While a student at Olympia High School, Le Dieu My was the general director of the musical 'Mamma Mia' in English with the participation of nearly 100 students. In 2019, she attracted attention for winning eight scholarships from American universities.

During her time back home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dieu My was the assistant general director of the musical 'Les Miserables' directed by People's Artist Tran Ly Ly. In 2022, she was the director of the musical 'Alice in Wonderland', a collaboration between the Vietnam Drama Theater, the Australian College of Music and Pacific Ocean Partners.

In the US, she had the opportunity to work with many major theaters in New York such as New Perspective Theatre Company, La MaMa, Theater Lab,... In 2024, Dieu My graduated with a BA in Drama from Hunter College (City University of New York), received a certificate in arts management and was awarded the Tyrone Guthrie Award for Best Director of the course.

Immediately after graduating, she directed 'The Collapse of The Hubbard Glacier' at Frigid NYC, which was nominated for Best Director at the 2024 Off-Broadway Award by Broadway World. At the same time, Dieu My was accepted to work at Little Island NYC, a non-profit outdoor theater, where she has been working for the past year.

Her latest project is 'The Six Paths', inspired by Vietnamese Buddhist culture and philosophy. The performance integrates traditional dance, ritual and visual arts, and successfully premiered at Theater for the New City (February 2025) to critical and online acclaim.

Dieu My was accepted into three American universities for her master's degree, including Yale, Columbia University, and Brooklyn College. She chose Yale University because of its quality of education and special scholarship opportunities.

From 16-Year-Old Dream to Reality at Yale

At the age of 16, Dieu My went to Yale University to participate in the final round of the World Scholar's Cup for international students. From this experience, she nurtured the dream of studying at the most prestigious school in the United States. More than 8 years later, she has realized that dream with her own talent and tireless efforts.

Young director Le Dieu My (third from left) and her colleagues

Le Dieu My’s journey is a typical example of the perseverance, clear orientation and international integration of young Vietnamese people. Being selected by Yale to receive a full scholarship not only recognizes the personal capacity and artistic creative potential of young Vietnamese people but also contributes to affirming the position of Vietnamese stage art on the international map.

After completing her Master's program at Yale, Dieu My expressed her desire to return to Vietnam to continue contributing to the country's theater - the place that inspired her passion for art from her early years.

PV

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tu-san-khau-hoc-sinh-den-hoc-bong-danh-gia-yale-hanh-trinh-cua-le-dieu-my-post1735666.tpo