Vietnam will, for the first time, hold two international conferences on music of ethnic minority groups from July 19-30 in Hanoi and Ha Long City in the northern province of Quang Ninh, with the expected participation of over 70 scientists from 31 nations and territories and 15 local music specialists. The events will be organized under the guidance of the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM). Total 76 reports will be presented during 30 sessions, focusing on the role of ethnic groups’ music in maintaining the community sustainability, existing challenges, performing art, preservation, and support from education system. This will be the first time two conferences of this kind are held in a country outside Europe, therefore, such events have attracted great attention of the council’s members, said Professor To Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Folk Letters and Arts Association. He noted that this will also be an opportunity for Vietnam to introduce to international guests the beauty and potential of its traditional music, and for local young researchers to exchange experience with international experts in the field. The ICTM, a non-governmental organization in formal consultative relations with UNESCO, consists of 1,600 members from 76 countries. It aims to further the study, practice, documentation, preservation and dissemination of traditional music, including folk, popular, classical and urban music, and dance of all countries. Vietnam officially became an ICTM member in 2002.
