HCM CITY — The first Tài Tử Music Festival for Children, to be held at HCM City’s Labour Cultural House next week, will include participants under 15 years old performing songs and instrumental pieces.

They will compete in categories of solo, duo, trio and group during the three-day event beginning August 3. The festival’s organiser, the Department of Culture and Sports, has invited veteran artists including Hồng Khanh to join the jury.

“Our previous tài tử music festivals presented top prizes to dozens of young contestants, including children between 5 and 12 years old. So we decided to organise a festival for children that meets their talents and tastes,” said Nguyễn Văn Minh, deputy director of the Department of Culture and Sports.

“The 1st Tài Tử Music Festival for Children aims to help young talent develop their careers,” he said.

Last year, the annual Tài Tử Music Festival called Hoa Sen Vàng (Golden Lotus) attracted more than 250 professional and amateur artists from 24 clubs in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.  

The festival included talks by music researchers Mai Mỹ Duyên, Huỳnh Khải and Nguyễn Kim Loan, who were members of the jury.  It attracted 1,000 visitors.

Tài Tử music is the prototype for vọng cổ (traditional tunes) and cải lương (reformed opera) of southern Việt Nam. It is a part of the region’s traditional music that began about 100 years ago.

The music is always performed at traditional festivals, weddings and death anniversaries in the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces of Cần Thơ, Sóc Trăng, Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu.

Musicians play traditional instruments, including the two-stringed guitar called the đàn kìm, and are accompanied by singers who express varying emotions.

In 2013, the music was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The 1st Tài Tử Music Festival for Children’s award presentation ceremony and performance gala will begin at 7.30pm on August 6 at the Labour Cultural House in District 1. Entrance is free. — VNS