Singer Trinh Lan Huong: Singing at weddings is also a way for singers to hone their professional skills.

(Baonghean) - For her, singers are not classy or demanding, because according to her, singing at weddings where people respect their voices but the pay is low is still valuable.

The profession chooses the person

Trinh Thi Lan Huong is known as the singer who can sing both folk and chamber music most fluently today. Therefore, she is suitable for many large and small stages, from political events to village weddings... Wherever Lan Huong is, she gives her all, leaving unforgettable impressions in the hearts of the audience.

Lan Huong naturally pursued a singing career, since she was a school and neighborhood singer since she was young, and won countless awards for the Truong Thi neighborhood where she lived. Since she was very young, Lan Huong sang Song of Hope and Xa Khoi like a professional singer. When she attended mass festivals, the judges all thought she had gone through formal training. Because when she performed, her vocal technique and emotions were so smooth that it came naturally, as if she had practiced for many years.

Lan Huong is currently a folk singer at the provincial Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe. Photo provided by the character

Passionate about music and wanting to sing forever and become a singer, in 2002 she decided to apply to join the Nghe An Song and Dance Troupe. Going to the competition with the mindset that if she wins, that's great, if not, it's still a memorable experience, as long as she gets to sing for famous singers and musicians, it's a joy and excitement...

However, when “Song of Hope” was sung in a clear, high-pitched voice, People’s Artist Tien Dung, who was then the Head of the Nghe An Dance and Drama Troupe, exclaimed in amazement: “Where did you learn to sing?” Lan Huong innocently replied: “My father taught me to sing since I was little and only taught me classical songs like that.” “So is your father a musician? Where does he work?” – “No, my father is just a construction worker.”

The whole hall burst into laughter that day because of Lan Huong's innocence and sincerity, but it was also because of that sincerity that she was the first person to be chosen to join the troupe along with Que Thuong. Her story of competing to become a singer was also full of "hardships"! When the troupe decided to choose Lan Huong, but after a week of sending invitations to her place of residence, still not seeing her join the troupe, People's Artist Tien Dung sent someone to look for her.

“When Mr. Hai from the group came to the end of my alley and met me, he asked, “Do you know Lan Huong in this neighborhood?” I said, “It’s me.” Mr. Hai was extremely happy and said, “The group has been looking for you for a whole week.”

Whether singing folk or chamber music, she always shows her own identity and personality. Photo provided by the character.

The most important thing is that the voice stays in the audience's heart.

When joining the troupe, she was sent to the College of Culture and Arts for training, and during this time she still went to perform for the people in the mountainous areas. Lan Huong was also a student that Meritorious Artist Thu Ha considered as her own child, pouring her heart into teaching her skills, breathing techniques, and maintaining the sound column so that she could sing many songs without getting tired and without "losing the notes"; at the same time, when processing a song, the singer needs to research what, where to put herself, in what space.

It was the lessons on stage, and also the lessons behind the scenes that Meritorious Artist Thu Ha kindly taught her that helped her quickly mature. She is one of the very few singers of the Troupe who was assigned many hit songs in important political events at a very young age and career.

Talking about the event of performing for people in remote areas, Lan Huong could not help but be moved when recalling a memory when singing a lullaby of the Thai people. “The first time I performed the song in ancient Thai, I had to do a lot of research, even met the artist to be taught how to pronounce it correctly, and especially how to sing it in a way that “resembled” a Thai lullaby”. When she went on stage to serve the people, Lan Huong received endless applause. A year later, the troupe returned to perform but without Lan Huong, the people went to see the troupe leader and asked her, “Are you not singing Thai folk songs today?” Just that one question gave her fuel on her journey to pursue her passion.

Having been in the troupe for more than 10 years, Lan Huong has also won many awards such as the third prize of Sao Mai Nghe An Television in the Folk Music category in 2007, the Gold Medal for Best Voice from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2005, and the Silver Medal at the National Professional Art Performance in 2015.

However, for her, the award is not so important, but staying in the hearts of the audience is what she trains and cultivates day and night. Recently, people often see singers singing at small events, serving a small audience, or singing at weddings. Lan Huong thinks that it is understandable when most singers always want to perform in a variety of stages. And through that, the singers themselves can show their loyalty to the profession, to the path they have chosen. Because, while there are many diners who want to enjoy real art, there are also many people who contract with singers just to make a party fancy.

“One day we went to sing and serve a table, but the guests were just sitting and talking to each other. After I introduced the song, I saw that the guests were still engrossed in their conversation. I wanted everyone to continue talking so we could sing later. After hearing this, the guests expressed their dissatisfaction and thought that singers should just sing without paying attention to their surroundings. I did not agree and terminated the contract.”

For her, singers are not classy or demanding people, because according to her, singing at weddings where people appreciate her voice but the pay is low is still more valuable than an event with a high pay but people do not want to enjoy the music.

For Lan Huong, no matter how smooth the path of being a singer is, there are still difficulties and hardships, and those in the profession must aim for their own destination, which is to convey artistic values ​​distilled from life through music, in order to leave beautiful aftertastes in the hearts of the audience.

Thanh Nga