HÀ NỘI — A student from the Việt Nam National Academy of Music has won first prize in the junior category at the 2018 Asian International Guitar Festival & Competition in Bangkok. 

Nguyễn Thanh Thảo, 16, is a student at the academy’s Department of Accordion, Guitar and Organ.

Aside from winning top honours at the Asian International Guitar Festival & Competition,  she also won the first and second prizes at the Sai Gon International Guitar Festival and Vietnamese Young Talented Students in the Arts last year. 

Two other Vietnamese participants, Nguyễn Hoàng Minh and Vương Quốc Anh, were also given the fourth and fifth prizes in the category. 

The event held from June 7 to 10 marked the 12th edition of the annual festival, which is considered as the biggest and most vibrant event for classical guitar aficionados and music lovers in the region.

This year, the festival featured a master class, guitar exhibits, competitions, and concerts by acclaimed world-class musicians from around the globe. Vietnamese guitarist Nguyễn Thanh Huy was among the festival’s internationally-known guests. 

The competition was divided into an 18-and-above category and an under-18 category. Competitors came from Indonesia, Australia, the US, and Norway, as well as South Korea, France, Ukraine, and the Phillippines.

Musicians from New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and India also participated in the competition. 

Thảo receive 4,000 baht (roughly US$150) in cash and guitar accessory sets. — VNS