Hanoi (VNA) - The final round of Sao Mai (Morning Star)contest will start this month with the participation of the 30 bestcontestants.

The singers from Vietnam’s northern, central, and southern regionsand expatriate communities in China and Russia will compete across the threegenres of chamber music, folk music, and pop.

The finales of chamber music performances are scheduled forSeptember 9, folk performances on September 16, and pop on September 23.

The organising board will select four contestants in each of thethree genres to enter the final round.

The competition’s finale and awards ceremony will be broadcastlive from FLC Sam Son Resort in central Thanh Hoa province on October 7.  

The contest was organised in three regions across the countrysince July to select best singers for the final round.

This year, a gala night will be held on September 30 to celebratethe contest’s 20th anniversary. It will gather famous singers who have wonawards in previous Sao Mai competitions, such as Khanh Linh, Ho Quynh Huong andNgoc Khue.

Sao Mai is a prestigious contest and the only one that gathersthree genres: chamber music, folk music, and pop, said Trinh Le Van, head ofthe organising board.

“The contest seeks new talents and supports them to develop theircareers as professional singers,” he said.

Nguyen Hong Ngoc, a student of the National University of ArtEducation, said although there are many singing contests organised like TheVoice and Vietnam Idol, Sao Mai is still the most prestigious contest that allmusic students want to join.

“I want to try my best at the contest because I know the juryboard requires much from contestants,” said Ngoc. “Through the contest, we havea chance to learn how to face challenges and pursue the professional singingcareer.”

Sao Mai singing contest, first conceived as the National TelevisionSinging Festival, is held every two years. Well-known Vietnamese singers inchamber music, folk music and pop have emerged from the contest.-VNA