The decoration was made in recognition of Son’s excellent achievements in culture.

Addressing the award ceremony held in Warsaw on September 13, Director of Fredric Chopin Institute Artur Szklener spoke highly of Dang Thai Son’s contributions to popularising Chopin’s music works to the world as well as his efforts in developing music in Poland, especially his participation to the ongoing first international Chopin contest in classical music instruments in Warsaw as a jury member.

Son thanked Poland for the recognition, while recalling special memories of the European country, especially the competition in 1980 he had joined and won the first prize. He said Chopin’s music is a part of his life and is also a language that helps him show his emotion and thinking.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Vu Dang Dung congratulated Son and his family on the award, while thanked Poland for awarding the highest distinction to a Vietnamese citizen on the occasion of the 73rd National Day of Vietnam and 100 years of Poland’s independence.

He believed that with the ward, Son would continue making more contributions to the world’s music and helping promote the culture of Vietnam and Poland.

Dang Thai Son, born in 1958, won the first prize at the tenth International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1980. It was also the first time an Asian artist had won this top international contest.

Gloria Artis is a departmental decoration of Poland in Arts awarded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland to persons and organisations for distinguished contributions to or protection of the Polish culture and national heritage.-VNA