Surpassing over 1,000 international candidates, Phan Trung Kien, a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, has won the only special prize at the Kyushu Music Concour 2018 in Kumamoto, Japan.

Phan Trung Kien and Lai Thi Huong Ly (Photo: photo courtesy by the singers)

At his final performance in the vocal category for 18 – 25 years old, Kien impressed the judge with his presentation of Giuseppe Verdi’s classical song Dormiro sol nel manto mio regal.

Kien was also named among the seven first-prize winners of the contest.

The second Vietnamese contestant sent to the competition was Lai Thi Huong Ly, also a student of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Competing in the same category as Kien, Ly came second.

The Kyushu Music Concour is held annually targeting international musical talents under 18 and between 18 and 25.-VNA