Thirty-seven choirs from eight countries will participate in the first
international chorus festival in Vietnam, which will be held in the ancient
town of Hoi An
on March 16-20.

By the end of February, 37 choirs from eight countries have
registered for the festival, including seven choirs from Vietnam. The remaining 30 choirs
are from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Hong Kong (China), Sri Lanka, Malaysia
and Estonia.

The seven Vietnamese choirs consist of the Sol Art
children’s choir, the choir of Hanoian children, the choir of the UNESCO Hanoi
Culture Center, Quang Nam Province choir, the choir of the Hanoi Friendship
Culture Palace, the choir of the Da Nang People-founded High School and the
choir of the Central Art Teacher Training University. Among these choirs, the
Sol Art is the most prominent.

Sol Art was founded in Hanoi
by musician Dang Chau Anh in April 2008. The choir has been known widely for
its participation in many big events in Vietnam.

At the upcoming chorus festival, Sol Art, with 37 singers,
will perform Vietnamese folk songs, folk dances and some solo performances of
traditional musical instruments.

Choirs will be divided into six groups to compete in 13
categories. The jury will include Vietnamese and foreign experts.

German conductor Graham Sutcliffee will conduct the opening
show on a float stage on the Hoai
River in Hoi An Town on
the evening of March 16.

PV