The "Vietnam and Japan light up Hope" concert started at 7 p.m. at Hy Vong (Hope) Boarding School in Da Nang's Ngu Hanh Son District and lasted for more than one hour.
The outdoor concert was held as an activity to celebrate Vietnam and Japan's 50 years of diplomatic relationship.
The concert was planned after Hoang Quoc Quyen, Project Director of Hope School, talked about the school to a friend who works at a Japanese firm. The friend then discussed with conductor Honna Tetsuji of Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra to organize a concert as a gift to the children there.
The artists performed pieces like "Salut d'amour" composed by Edward Elgar, "Turkish march" by Mozart, "Merry go round" from Japanese animated fantasy film "Howl's moving castle" and "Under the sea" from Walt Disney's "The Little Mermaid."
Organizers of the concert hope that music can help heal the soul of the children who suffered big losses due to the pandemic. "Only music can help the students at Hope School be happier," Quyen said.
Hope School students sing Vietnamese songs on the symphony music.
Diep (front row, L), lost her father to Covid-19 and, due to poverty, her mother sent her to Hope School in February last year. The 8-year-old has grown from a timid girl to the lead singer in many musical performances at the school.
Luu Gia Nghi, a 10th grader at Hope School, sings to the concert.
"This is the first time I get to enjoy a symphony concert. I feel very happy as the music somehow eases my pains."
Nghi and her older brother lost their parents to Covid-19. The brother had planned to drop out of school to work and take care of her, before Hope School teachers took them in last August.
Conductor Honna Tetsuji hugs Hope School's children.
He said he is happy seeing how the concert has brought joy to them.
The artists let the children try their instruments at the end of the show.
The "Vietnam and Japan light up hope" is scheduled to be a three-year project, with three concerts held every year. This year's program is sponsored by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
The artists are gifted tote bags printed with paintings created by Hope School children.
Truong Thi Thanh Thanh (R, 2nd), chairwoman of Hope School, praised the concert as "a special gift from Japanese friends."
"We've met each other and communicated in common languages, the language of love, and the language of music," Thanh said.
Hope School students take a group photo with the artists.
Hope School was established by FPT Corporation, now raising nearly 300 children from primary to high-school grades from across the country.
