VASCAM Recital 2019

Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 7 PM 

Việt Báo Daily News 

Westminster, CA

An evening to celebrate musical creativity. The recital features art songs completed by participants of VASCAM Write-An-Art-Song Workshop 2019 that took place July 8-13 and VASCAM Write-An-Art-Song Workshop 2018. The workshop is led by professor P. Q. Phan. 2019 Beginner class meets four evenings Monday to Thursday, and each member finishes setting a tune to a text of their choice in English or Vietnamese. The result is six new songs. Five VASCAM Workshop alumni who registered for a brief consultation with Dr Phan to fine tune their new song will meet on July 12.  

These eleven new songs, together with five others from last year’s workshop, are performed by pianist Dr. Bằng-Lăng Đỗ, soprano Bích Vân, soprano Kim Nguyễn, and bass-baritone Lê Đoài Huy. 

The musicians have a look at the music sheets on Friday afternoon, the day before the recital. They take a few hours to rehearse the songs for the first time in the presence of professor P.Q. Phan. Then they perform the songs on Saturday evening in a recital that concludes the workshop. 

The recital is to honor and celebrate achievements by workshop graduates who work extremely hard for several days with an open mind to complete a task using methods they have never done before. 

The workshop and the ensuing recital are made possible by a team of highly professional artists: Dr P.Q. Phan walks participants through a scientific process that demystifies any creative concepts they may have, Dr Bằng-Lăng Đỗ provides an on-the-spot arrangement that highlights the English or Vietnamese text of each song, and the singers who read and learn the new music quickly for a professional rendition.

The general purposes of this songwriting workshop are to bring home the value of creativity, to give community members a taste of it, and ultimately to raise awareness of the importance of art in our life.

Reception to follow. Free admission.