Hồ Thụy Trang

Ho Thuy-Trang began her musical journey at the age of 6, excelling in the highly selective entrance examination for the National Superior Conservatory of Music in Sai Gon (Vietnam) in 1972. Graduating with honors in 1986, she started teaching at the age of 18. Her dan tranh (zither), her faithful companion, has traveled with her to nearly 20 countries around the world.

Before settling in France, she taught at the regional conservatory of music in Ho Chi Minh City, the School of Arts and Cultures in Dong Nai, the Leisure Center in Ho Chi Minh City, and several public schools in the country. A dream and ambition began to take shape in her—to educate the next generation in this musical tradition, ensuring that the melody of dan tranh (zither), dan bau (monochord), and traditional Vietnamese music continues to resonate and be preserved in her future adopted country.

In 2003, upon her arrival in France, her primary concern was to find a solution to continue her profession at all costs. Her profession is the result of a passion that cost her 15 years of intense study and work. It is a career in which her parents invested much love and sacrifice, so there is no reason to end this emotionally precious profession, even though adapting to a new life in an unknown country was not easy.

Initially, Ho Thuy-Trang started by performing at small events to create her own publicity. Through this, she successfully shared her passion with the audience, and after each performance, there were always people among the spectators eager to receive her teaching. To provide her students with real-world experiences and help them develop their passion in the public sphere, she organized small concerts. Over time, invitations to concerts multiplied, leading her to establish her group, Tiếng Tơ Đồng.

After 10 years of residence in France, Ho Thuy-Trang deservedly obtained the State Diploma in traditional Vietnamese music. Henceforth, she could officially teach at French conservatories. Her students come from diverse backgrounds, including Vietnamese origin but not necessarily fluent in their mother tongue. Alongside her musical pedagogy, Ho Thuy-Trang also teaches the Vietnamese language to her students through traditional melodies and lyrics filled with love and nostalgia for their homeland.

Activities:

- Established the Tieng To Dong group in 2000, performing in France and Europe.

- Established the Fil d'Asie group in 2015, a unique quartet in the world featuring four Asian zithers: Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

- Composition and arrangement for storytelling, theater, film, etc.

- Participation in symphony orchestras, saxophone, guitar, piano, harp groups, etc.

- Participation in international festivals, the Francophonie celebration in France and Vietnam.

- Presentation of traditional Vietnamese musical instruments in schools.

- Participation in cultural, sports, Franco-Vietnamese relationship events, charity evenings,etc.

- Organization of Vietnamese arts workshops.

- Teaching at the conservatories of Bussy Saint Georges, Gagny, and Bobigny since 2013.

- Member of the jury for diploma examinations.

- Participation in documentaries, television, and radio interviews on RFI, France Bleue, BBC, etc.

Recordings:

- CD "Time" by Warner Music France with Jasmine Vegas / 2007

- CD "Manhattan Baby" by Discograph with PaccoVolume I / 2009

- CD - BOOK "Tam and the Voice of Dragons" by Cité de la Musique and Acte Sud Junior / 2013

- Television appearance on "Mission d'Antoine" on Canal+ / 2018

- Film "Comme un fleuve" by Sandra Desmazières / 2021

- Film "Monsieur Tout le Monde" with Steve Tran / 2022