It’s the first time I’ve seen Ailen Pritchin, who is a Russian violinist of Vietnamese descent, since we first met five years ago.

Vietnamese-Russian violinist, Ailen Pritchin, passionately performs a Vietnamese song with his prized violin.

It’s the first time I’ve seen Ailen Pritchin, who is a Russian violinist of Vietnamese descent, since we first met five years ago after he won the first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians held in Kurashiki, Japan.

The event included competitions in piano, violin and cello for musicians under the age of 18 from around the world, and served as a prelude for the world’s leading International Tchaikovsky Competition.

Pritchin was attending the Music High School of Saint Petersburg at the time, while his sister Yana attended the Vietnamese and Chinese university in the city.

He is now a handsome man with visible Russian and Vietnamese traits. His Vietnamese father, Nguyen Van Thong, was a businessman and his Russian mother, Marina Pritchina, was a teacher that lived in a beautiful three-room apartment in St Petersburg.

The 22-year-old Vietnamese-Russian violist is currently studying at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Ailen speaks three other languages: English, German and Italian.

When asked about his favourite dish for dinner, Pritchin acknowledged that he liked nem (Vietnamese spring rolls) the most.

“My parents always make the dish whenever we invite guests over or during the holidays,” he says.

Ailen has won four first prizes at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Japan and third prize at the international violin competition in Sweden last year.

His violin, which was made by famous Italian violin maker Stradivari’s student Carlo Bergonse, is Pritchin’s prized possession, although it technically belongs to a Russian violin collection.

The violin case is made of yellow leather and is equipped with humidity and temperature controls that protect the instrument.

Ailen says he always has his violin with him unless he is eating or sleeping. He also claims that it is impossible to take the violin out of the country without a special certificate because the instrument has immense national value.

Pritchin is now a lecturer’s assistant to Eduard Grach, who is his 79-year-old teacher.

Pritchin remembers visiting his grandparents’ house, which is near the Ha Noi Opera House. He says he used to spend hours walking around their house dreaming of performing on stage for his beloved family and a large audience.

The young violinist plans to get a doctorate degree at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, which will provide him with opportunities to perform world-wide.

He hopes one day to return to Viet Nam and perform at the Opera House and in other localities in the country.

VietNamNet/VNS