Hundreds of talented Vietnamese and foreign classical musicians took an audition for the Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO) – Vietnam’s first private symphony orchestra - in Hanoi from October 19-21.

Oliver Fabrice Ochanine, Music Director, SSO conductor

Candidates performed their audition pieces in front of the international examiners’ council, namely Oliver Fabrice Ochanine, Music Director, SSO conductor; Russian violist Stepan Yakovich, lecturer at the Moscow Music Academy; oboist Rachel Walker from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra; cor horn player Javier Bonet from the Spanish National Orchestra; Vadim Simongauz, the Section Leader Timpani of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Musicians abroad sent up to 150 audition pieces to the examiners’ council.

According to Do Hong Quan, Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians’ Association said this is an international standard recruitment, with candidates from all over the world and a reputable jury.

Vadim Simongauz called it a privilege to be an examiner and select members for the newly-founded orchestra of Vietnam.

The Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is sponsored by one of Vietnam’s leading real estate developers, Sun Group.

The SSO introduced its management board on September 21. French conductor and winner of the 2015 Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition Olivier Ochanine is the music director and principal conductor. Famous TV emcee, concert producer and contrabassist Vu Anh Tuan is executive director.

The five-member board also includes President Tran Khanh, Vice President Le Thi Bich Tran, and general director Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh – all are successful businesspeople with a great passion for on classic music.

VNA