Thirty-seven choruses will perform traditional Vietnamese folk music Trong Com (Cylindrical Drum) on March 16 to kick off the first-ever Viet Nam International Choir Festival and Competition in the ancient town of Hoi An.

During the opening, under the baton of the British conductor Graham Sutcliffe, the 1,000-person grand choir will also present an exerpt from the Carmina Burana, Chapter 1 by German Carl Orff.

The four-day event is a product of the collaboration between the Quang Nam provincial People's Committee, the Hoi An People's Committee, and the German Interkultur – a cultural organisation that has connected choir communities around the world for more than 20 years.

Seven choruses come from Viet Nam, while the remaining 30 are from Estonia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. All will be required to perform folk music and another piece of their choosing. There are six categories in which the choirs will compete to win the award.

According to the event's agenda, each chorus will also perform in seven public spaces in the ancient city. The city's historical and cultural museum, Hoai River Square and Hoi An Beach Resort are among the venues.

Furthermore, the Viet Nam International Choir Festival and Competition will offer participants the chance to rehearse with and get advice from choir experts.

According to Interkultur, the event is important to Viet Nam's cultural development.

Source: VNS