Pianist Dang Thai Son’s student comes first at int’l Chopin piano competition
Canadian pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Li, student of renowned Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son, has won the first prize at the 18th Chopin piano competition in Warsaw, Poland, which is considered the world's most prestigious music awards.
Canadian pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Li (Photo courtesy of Chopin Institute).
Hanoi (VNA) - Canadian pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Li, student of renownedVietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son, has won the first prize at the 18th Chopin piano competition in Warsaw, Poland, which is considered the world's most prestigious music awards.
Another student of Son, JJ Bui, won the 6th prize.
Son, who himself was the first Asian to win first prize andthe gold medal at the same competition in 1980, expressed his pride on his students' achievements on Facebook. The Vietnamesepianist is now teaching at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the US.
Held every five years since 1927, the Chopin competitionwould normally have been held last year, but was postponed because of the COVID-19pandemic.
This year’s competition, held from October 2-23, drew 87pianists from 18 nations across the globe, including 22 from China, 16 fromPoland and 14 from Japan.
Broadcast live on YouTube and via a bespoke mobile app, thecontest attracted record online interest. Some 70,000 people watched the resultstreamed online./.
Pianist Nguyen Duc Anh, who earned a master’s degree at Freiburg Conservatory of Music in Germany, will perform in a concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birthday at the HCM City Opera House on November 28.
The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) together with the Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM), on April 20, announced their cooperation in holding a special symphony project gathering more than 100 leading artists in Vietnam.
Known as one of the leading pianists in Vietnam, Pho An My creates her art in a separate and unique way. In 2020, she and her family decided to move to the northern mountainous province of Son La and set up a special cultural space combining modernity and local ethnicity for artists in and outside of the country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu on July 28 sent a letter of congratulations to Nguyen Viet Trung, the only representative of Vietnam at the final round of the 18th Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in Poland.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
Canadian pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Li (Photo courtesy of Chopin Institute). 
