Composer Hoang Van has passed away.

Conductor Le Phi Phi, son of composer Hoang Van, is currently living and working in Macedonia and was not present when his father passed away. "My father passed away in his sleep. This is sad news for the family. I will be in Vietnam in the next two days to take care of the arrangements for my father," the conductor said.

Composer Hoàng Vân, whose real name was Lê Văn Ngọ, was born on July 24, 1930, into an intellectual family in Hanoi. Having studied music theory from a very young age, Hoàng Vân composed his first works at just 15 years old.

Like his contemporaries, composer Hoang Van's musical journey was closely linked to the upheavals of national history during the two wars of resistance against France and the United States.

At the age of 16, he joined the Mai Hac De National Salvation Youth Team, serving as a liaison officer for the self-defense force in the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc area of ​​Hanoi. Later, he was in charge of the Cadet Corps of Regiment 165, Division 312. Subsequently, he joined the Armed Propaganda Team, working in journalism and enemy propaganda for the regiment and division, and was in charge of cultural activities in Division 312.

He was then sent to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in China. Upon returning to Vietnam after six years of intensive study, the former Dien Bien Phu soldier became the conductor of the Vietnam National Radio's music ensemble, serving as artistic director and simultaneously teaching composition and orchestration at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music until 1989.

Many of his students have become famous, including musicians such as An Thuyên, Trương Ngọc Ninh, Văn Thành Nho, Phú Quang, and others.

During his time teaching at the school, he also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Musicians Association, head of the vocal composition committee, and worked at the Association until 1996. In 1975, he did an internship at the Sofia Conservatory in Bulgaria.

For his contributions to the national music scene, composer Hoang Van was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in 2000. Twelve years later, he received the title of Outstanding Citizen of Hanoi.

Composer Hoàng Vân's wife was a doctor. They had two children: conductor Lê Phi Phi and Lê Y Linh, who earned a doctorate in music in France.

Composer Hoang Van has made many contributions and has had many of his works performed at the "Things That Remain" concert program organized by VietNamNet newspaper for many years, held annually on the afternoon of September 2nd.

His compositions have touched the hearts of many generations, such as: "Quang Binh, My Homeland," "Song of the People's Teacher," "Song of Construction," etc.