Nguyen Minh Duc, from Hanoi’s High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences, recently gained admission to numerous US universities. Some have offered scholarships of up to VND6 billion for four-year study, including University of Rochester (ranked 47 NU, VND5.8 billion scholarship), Franklin & Marshall College (ranked 31 LAC, VND5.9 billion), and University of Georgia (ranked 46 NU, VND2.1 billion).

Among options, Duc aims to study Data Science at Rochester. “It’s strong in research. Rochester also hosts the Eastman School of Music, renowned across the US and globally; both align with my top interests,” Duc said.

As a music lover, Duc previously earned an LCM international music certificate from the University of West London. Joining Rochester, he sees a chance to explore music and piano techniques further.

His dream of studying in the US was sparked in high school. Duc chose America for its dynamic education, cultural diversity, and career opportunities. But only in 11th grade did he actively begin ‘hunting’ for scholarships.

“I carefully weighed factors to find schools matching my goals without burdening my family financially,” Duc said.

Alongside his grades, Duc has competed in STEM contests, joined social projects for experience, and launched personal initiatives.

With a keen interest in culture and history, Duc founded the “Non quai thao” project to preserve and share Bac Ninh’s ancient quan ho with the community, especially youth.

Started in March 2024, after attending a traditional quan ho festival in Diem Village (Viem Xa, Bac Ninh), Duc was struck by the group singing model and profound lyrics of ancient quan ho, which is far different from televised versions. He realized that parts of this cultural heritage were fading, unknown without bridges to connect.

This prompted Duc to organize music nights titled “Quan ho nocturne - thousand-year heritage,” with the performance of two veteran Kinh Bac artists — People’s Artist Nguyen Thi Them and Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Sang.

Their involvement brought raw, emotive, soulful quan ho melodies, helping youth grasp the refined cultural values in each verse.

“With many traditional values fading, I didn’t just aim one night of performance. I aimed for a new approach where quan ho isn’t just preserved but thrives in modern life,” Duc said.

Duc and his team produced a documentary video recreating an ancient quan ho singing scene to reach youth through vivid, relatable media.

The video captured authentic visuals, weaving in artists’ and youths’ emotions, helping viewers understand quan ho’s cultural space, a UNESCO-recognized heritage.

Thuy Nga