Closing an academic year of 2018 - 2019 of the National University of Art Education (NUAE), there has been many proud achievements of the university’s lecturers and students. Among them, it is impossible not to mention student Nguyen Minh Phuong of K2 course - Piano University, who just won the first prize at the International Piano Competition in New York, USA 2018.
From an early age, Nguyen Minh Phuong always wanted to study professionally with the piano. Graduated from high school, the girl born in 1997 passed the entrance exam into the Journalism and Piano. And like many other young people, Phuong had wondered to choose her future. Finally, the love for the piano urged her to choose, enroll and become a student of the NUAE.
Phuong's choice had had the concerns of relatives and families because Piano was a new discipline of the NUAE where she decided to study, compared to other traditional training institutions. Even so, with her own intuition, through the contact with the older fellows and lecturers of the University, Phuong still decided to stick with the National University of Art Education. And in fact, this young girl's choice has been absolutely right. Although a student of a new field of study, but when studying, Phuong did not have many difficulties because many teachers and friends helped her. The only difficulty for her is to get used to the new subject - vocal accompaniment. Because, since childhood, Phuong usually only did the classic lessons for Piano solo, but has not had the opportunity to play the guitar in combination with the singers. But when she entered the university, she learned and practiced more vocal accompaniment, participated in accompaniment for the students, the vocal music students in tests, graduation exam, etc. This brought to Minh Phuong joy, passion and more firmly believe in the discipline she have chosen.
Minh Phuong (2nd from the left)and the NUAE’s students studied and performed with the lecturers of Brigham Young University (BYU), USA
Other than the studying time in the class, Phuong had also participated in performance activities, programs organized by the university. With the credit-based training method, students are able to arrange their own schedule, choose a lecturer, Minh Phuong quickly catched this, she proactively built herself a reseasonal study plan, still have time for extracurricular activities and performances.
Nguyen Minh Phuong at the New York International Piano Competition 2018
Also during the memorable years at the university, besides learning the knowledge and professional skills, Minh Phuong also received the support and encouragement from the teachers to encourage her to participate in competitions. With the desire to challenge, set a goal to strive for herself, this piano student has boldly participated and grown up through festivals, art competitions. From the International Piano Encouragement Prize held in Ho Chi Minh City in 2017, Minh Phuong has gained much experience for herself and quickly progressed through exams and recently, the highest prize in the International Piano Competition reorganized in New York, USA. It can be said that, in the good results that the 3rd year student can achieve, in addition to the constant efforts of herself, the help of the family there had also has dedication, responsibility and professional orientation from lecturers. To prepare for competitions, lecturers, especially M.A. Dinh Cong Hai has spent a lot of time, choosing and correcting music work, making suggestions and correcting inadequacies and promoting strengths in Phuong's ability to perform. It can be said that the National University of Art Education with enthusiastic and passionate lecturers has elicited the passion for performing, adding confidence to the student Minh Phuong to step into such big challenges.
Phuong shared that, after graduating, she plans to continue pursuing Piano major at a higher level of a master degree. This piano student wishes to be able to return to the university later, become a lecturer like the lecturers she has admired and loved so that she can continue to spread the love to music to students, with the piano in the National University of Art Education.
Nguyen Minh Phuong, student of K2 Faculty of Piano - National University of Art Education:
1. Consolation Prize of Ho Chi Minh City International Piano Competition 2017
2. The third prize in the contest of talented pupils and students of national cultural and art training institutions in 2017
3. First Prize of New York International Piano Competition 2018 in USA