Budding talent: Young cai luong artist Vo Hong Thuy (right) of the Tay Do Cai Luong Theatre receives her Prospects Prize from People's Artist Bach Tuyet during a ceremony held on Sunday. — VNS Photo Van Dat

BAC LIEU (VNS) — The Tran Huu Trang Prize – the country's most prestigious award for artists of cai luong (a traditional form of opera in southern Viet Nam) was awarded to 10 young performers during a ceremony held on Sunday on the sidelines of the first National Don Ca Tai Tu Festival in Bac Lieu Province.

Besides discovering young talent, the competition aims to keep the tradition of cai luong alive in the community and foster a love for folk opera among young people in the South.

Many famous cai luong artists have become well-known after winning the prize, including Vu Linh, Thanh Thanh Tam, Phuong Hang, Kim Tu Long, Thoai My and Thanh Ngan.

Prospects Prizes were awarded to seven artists.

People's Artist Bach Tuyet, a member of the jury, said the winners this year of the Exellence Prize were all well qualified. They were Nguyen Ngoc Doi of Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Troupe; Dang Thi My Van of Dong Thap; Le Thi Ngoc Huyen of Military Zone No. 9's Cai Luong Troupe.

The winners were selected from 23 shortlisted contestants from HCM City and provinces in the Mekong Delta who competed during the final found held in Hau Giang Province on March 28-30. The top 23 finalists were chosen from a field of 60 contestants.

The organisers of the national Tai Tu Festival, the HCM City Theatre Association, Hau Giang Television and Bac Lieu Province, were responsible for putting together the competition. — VNS