First international choir festival to open in March 16

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.