Music therapy: Violist Nguyệt Thu (second from left) and the Apaixonado String Quartet will perform at the Love of Blue concert. -- Photo courtesy of Nguyệt Thu

HÀ NỘI — Violist Nguyệt Thu and her Apaixonado String Quartet band will hold a concert for children with autism on Saturday at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music’s Grand Concert Hall.

The concert, entitled Love of Blue, will treat the audience to a night of classical and romantic music pieces such as You Raise Me Up, Romance for Viola and Orchestra, Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, Viva la Vida and Palladio.

World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2. Every year, autism organisations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness events.

As the mother of a child with autism, violist Nguyệt Thu wants to show her support for the day by bringing her music and her story to the public.

She hopes to integrate children with autism completely into society in this manner.

“I’m an ambassador of the Sunrise for U programme for children with autism in Việt Nam. I can say that all children with autism love music,” Thu said.

“Music is good therapy, helping them calm down without any side effects. The Love of Blue concert will help people to have more understanding about children with autism.”

Two children with autism will sing and play the piano at the concert.

The goal of the concert is to give 10 full scholarships to 10 young musical talents with autism. These children will get an opportunity to further explore the world of music.

Violist Nguyệt Thu graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She has won second prize at the Moscow International Viola Competition and has performed as a soloist and lead viola with foreign orchestras across the world.

She returned to Việt Nam in 2014 and founded the Apaixonado String Quartet. She also opened the School for Arts, the first school that teaches music to children with autism in Việt Nam.

The Love of Blue concert will be conducted by Professor Ngô Văn Thành and will feature the Hà Nội Youth Orchestra. The concert will begin at 8pm.

About 20 paintings by children with autism will also be auctioned before the show. Ticket prices range from VNĐ100,000 to 300,000. Please call 0934590588 or 0936075153 for tickets. — VNS