VietNamNet Bridge – Best New Artist and Song of the Year are two new categories at this year's Dedication Music Awards.

Pitch perfect: People's Artist Quang Tho sings at a show in the Luala Concert series, which aims to bring classcial music performed by noted artists to mass audiences in Ha Noi. The series has been nominated for the Dedication Awards' Show of the Year.

They join the existing categories of Best Album, Composer, Singer and Show of the Year to encourage artists in their careers, said Truong Le Kim Hoa, head of the organising board, which announced the nominees at a ceremony yesterday, March 19.

Three female artists – Pham Thu Ha, My Tam and Uyen Linh – head the list this year.

Ha is nominated as Best New Artist and her album Classic Meets Chillout is shortlisted as Album of the Year. As the title suggests, it is a crossover album combining classical and chill-out music.

"It's great and I think I'm lucky to be one of the nominees," she said. "It will encourage me to work harder in my career."

My Tam is nominated as Singer of the Year and her song Chuyen Nhu Chua Bat Dau (Story That Has Not Begun) is up for Song of the Year. She was the first and only Vietnamese performer to receive the Best Asian Artist title at the Mnet Asian Music Awards last year.

Her song became a hit with over eight million listeners on You Tube.

The song competes with three others including Chiec Khan Pieu (Pieu Scarf), by veteran Doan Nho, which was named Song of the Year 2012 in Viet Nam Television's Favourite Song show.

Four contenders for Show of the Year are Young Melody by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, In The Sport Light, Luala Concert Fall Winter 2012 and Rock Storm 2012.

Not many know about Young Melody but it should interest for young audiences, according to music columnist Huu Trinh from the The Thao & Van Hoa (Sport&Culture) daily.

"The show is a link bringing classical music closer to young audiences," Trinh said.

Luu Thien Huong and Nguyen Van Chung are each nominated as Composer of the Year. They also have songs shortlisted as Song of the Year.

Four nominees for Singer of the Year are no surprise this year. Three are veterans Tung Duong, My Linh and My Tam who have already won Dedication titles.

The other is Uyen Linh, winner of Viet Nam Idol 2010. She is a Dedication Awards nominee for the first time in two categories, Album and Singer of the Year, proving her ability after the talent quest.

The Dedication Awards were initiated in 2005 by the Vietnam News Agency's The Thao & Van Hoa daily.

The eighth award ceremony will be held in HCM City's Hoa Binh Theatre on April 24. It will be broadcast live at 8pm on Viet Nam Television's channels 4 and 6.

Source: VNS