Nguyen Minh Duc, a student at the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences (Hanoi), has just received news that he has been accepted to a series of American universities, many of which are willing to offer him scholarships of up to nearly 6 billion for 4 years, such as: Rochester University (ranked 47th in NU, scholarship of 5.8 billion VND), Franklin & Marshall University (ranked 31st in LAC, scholarship of 5.9 billion VND), University of Georgia (ranked 46th in NU, scholarship of 2.1 billion VND)...

Despite having many options, the student wants to pursue Data Science at the University of Rochester. “This is a school with strong research capabilities. Rochester also has the Eastman Conservatory of Music, which is famous throughout the United States and the world. Those are my top concerns,” Duc said.

Having a love for music, Duc previously took the LCM international music certificate organized annually by the University of West London. Being accepted to the University of Rochester, according to Duc, is also a great opportunity for him to learn more about music and piano techniques.

Nguyen Minh Duc, student at High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences. Photo: NVCC

The dream of studying abroad in the US was born when Minh Duc entered high school. He chose the US because he felt that the education system here was dynamic, culturally diverse, and had many opportunities for future career development. However, it was not until grade 11 that Duc officially "hunted" for scholarships.

“I have considered very carefully, based on many factors and criteria to determine which school is suitable for me but does not cause a financial burden on my family,” Duc said.

Along with improving and consolidating his academic scores, Duc tried his hand at STEM competitions, participated in social projects to gain experience, and then established his own personal projects.

Having a special interest in culture and history, the male student founded the project "Non quai thao" with the desire to preserve and spread to the community, especially young people, the values ​​of ancient Bac Ninh quan ho.

This is a project founded by Minh Duc in March 2024, after participating in the traditional Quan Ho festival in Diem Village (Viem Xa village, Bac Ninh). Here, Duc was impressed by the group singing style and profound lyrics of ancient Quan Ho - which is very different from the Quan Ho melodies performed on television. From there, the male student realized that many aspects of this cultural heritage are gradually fading away and not known to the public without "bridges".

Upon returning, Duc decided to organize music nights introducing ancient Quan Ho with the title “Quan Ho Nocturne - A Thousand-Year Heritage”. The male student proactively invited two veteran artists from Kinh Bac - People's Artist Nguyen Thi Them and Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Sang - to participate in performances and share about ancient Quan Ho.

The accompaniment of the artists not only brings rustic, emotional, and profound ancient Quan Ho melodies, but also helps young people understand more deeply the subtle cultural values ​​hidden in each song.

Duc organizes music nights introducing ancient Quan Ho with the title "Quan Ho Nocturne - A Thousand-Year Heritage". Photo: NVCC

“In the context of many traditional values ​​being lost, instead of just stopping at a music night, I hope to open up a new approach - where Quan Ho is not only preserved but also continues to spread strongly in contemporary life,” Duc said.

Duc and the project members continue to make a video report recreating an ancient Quan Ho singing performance to promote it to many young people through a close and vivid form of communication.

The video not only captures authentic images but also incorporates the sharing and emotions of the artists and young people participating, helping viewers better understand the Quan Ho cultural space - a heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Minh Duc also included his love and interest in Bac Ninh's ancient quan ho in his essay. Duc said that he was not very interested in traditional music. On the contrary, his father was very passionate about ancient quan ho. This made Duc always curious, "What is so good about quan ho that makes dad love it so much?" and urged him to learn about this traditional folk song. After experiencing the festival and listening to quan ho in Lang Diem - one of the 49 original quan ho villages, Duc realized that ancient quan ho is not just about the songs but also an ancient culture that is passed down.

“On the journey of learning about ancient Quan Ho, I also realized that with anything, instead of just paying attention to the surface, if we explore deep inside, we can see a very beautiful corner, which is its true value,” Duc said.

Duc on a trip to learn about culture and make a video about an ancient Quan Ho singing show. Photo: NVCC

Ms. Le Dieu Linh, Minh Duc's main advisor during the application process, assessed Duc's curiosity and passion for learning as qualities that any top university in the US is looking for. "Duc's story is a differentiating factor, helping him be recognized in the most competitive admissions season ever," Ms. Linh said.

After being accepted to his dream school, Minh Duc said he will focus on participating in a research project before entering the fall semester this year. The fields Duc is interested in and pursuing are related to Data Science or History - Culture.

Hanoi female student accepted into a series of top universities in the US and Australia. Dang Khanh Linh, 18 years old, has just conquered a series of top universities in the US and Australia, including a school that offered her a full scholarship of nearly 7.5 billion VND for 4 years.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nam-sinh-chuyen-tu-nhien-gianh-loat-hoc-bong-my-nho-tinh-yeu-quan-ho-bac-ninh-2387976.html