Thuy My, who works at the Voice of Vietnam’s Literature, Arts and Music Department (VOV3), was inspired by her parents, who were also VOV’s artists. Thuy My began singing at the age of four, but later chose to pursue a career as a player of the 36-string hammered dulcimer.
In 1993, at the World Children’s Festival in China, Thuy My met music educator Xuan Dung, a lecturer at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music, now the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Inspired by him, she went on to study the instrument for 13 years, from elementary school through university.
Thuy My also plays other instruments including the t’rưng and the k’long put. Her versatility has enabled her to bring the spirit and cultural identity of Vietnam to lifein multiple ways.
“The very first moment I saw the 36-string hammered dulcimer, I was fascinated by its many strings. It has more strings than any other instrument in the traditional orchestra. I was curious about it and wanted to master it. My parents encouraged and guided me. I studied at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music and was later admitted to the school as a full-time student. Since then, I’ve pursued a career as a performer of Vietnamese traditional music,” said My.
Thuy My was born in 1984. Her mother, Meritorious Cai luong (reformed theatre) Artist Thuy Dat, is known for her sweet voice. Her father, the late Meritorious Artist Van Hung, was a percussionist. Her elder sister, Nguyễn Thuy Thuy, is an editor at VOV3.
In 2013, Thuy My wrote her first instrumental composition, “A Glimpse of the Highlands”, for the 16-string zither and traditional orchestra. The piece won a prize from the Vietnam Musicians’ Association. Building on that achievement, she composed other notable works, including “The Charm of the Countryside”, “Welcoming the Dawn”, and “Love for the Sea”.
In each of her compositions, My draws on the distinctive qualities of traditional Vietnamese instruments. She believes a composer should create melodies that strike a balance between traditional music and the spirit of the times. Breathing new life into traditional music makes it more appealing to younger audiences.
“After graduating, I began working for the Voice of Vietnam. Every day, I have an opportunity to work with and be exposed to folk melodies from different regions, and to the classic tunes of traditional Vietnamese music. My parents, who were like a living musical library, always supported and guided me professionally, and helped me develop a broad perspective and achieve the best results,” she said.
Born and raised in Hanoi, My’s work has been inspired by the capital. She is particularly interested in incorporating traditional folk elements into melodies written for children. Her children’s song “Hanoi, My Beloved Capital” won her an A Prize in 2024 and she has received many other prestigious awards.
Meritorious Artist Thu Trang said of her, “Thuy My has developed a distinctive musical style of her own. She has a deep passion for every traditional instrument, and she works closely with her fellow musicians to create the best possible musical works.”
