The first Tai Tu Music Festival for Children, to be held at HCM City’s Labour Cultural House next week, will include participants under 15 years old performing songs and instrumental pieces.

They will compete in categories of solo, duo, trio and group during the three-day event beginning August 3. The festival’s organiser, the Department of Culture and Sports, has invited veteran artists including Hong Khanh to join the jury.

“Our previous Tai Tu music festivals presented top prizes to dozens of young contestants, including children between 5 and 12 years old. So we decided to organise a festival for children that meets their talents and tastes,” said Nguyen Van Minh, deputy director of the Department of Culture and Sports.

“The 1st Tai Tu Music Festival for Children aims to help young talent develop their careers,” he said.

Last year, the annual Tai Tu Music Festival called Hoa Sen Vang (Golden Lotus) attracted more than 250 professional and amateur artists from 24 clubs in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.  

The festival included talks by music researchers Mai My Duyen, Huynh Khai and Nguyen Kim Loan, who were members of the jury.  It attracted 1,000 visitors.

Tai Tu music is the prototype for vong co (traditional tunes) and cai luong (reformed opera) of southern Vietnam. It is a part of the region’s traditional music that began about 100 years ago.

The music is always performed at traditional festivals, weddings and death anniversaries in the Mekong Delta provinces of Can Tho, Soc Trang, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu.

Musicians play traditional instruments, including the two-stringed guitar called the Dan kim, and are accompanied by singers who express varying emotions.

In 2013, the music was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The 1st Tai Tu Music Festival for Children’s award presentation ceremony and performance gala will begin at 7.30pm on August 6 at the Labour Cultural House in District 1. Entrance is free.

VNS