From a shy 12-year-old girl stepping onto the stage of the Greenfield Music Festival, Nguyen Minh Nguyet has grown and gone on to conquer numerous music awards. Behind that journey lies relentless effort and a profound love for Vietnamese culture.

When mentioning Nguyen Minh Nguyet (Class 8G1, Global Citizen Bilingual Programme), teachers and students at Greenfield School Ecopark Campus immediately think of a student with a clear, soaring voice and a confident stage presence. She has earned multiple music awards, ranging from school-level competitions to national contests.

From “the girl with glasses” to a promising young vocalist

Minh Nguyet showed her passion for music at a very young age. She loved singing and was quick to learn new songs. Respecting their daughter’s passion, her parents consistently encouraged her to pursue music. Since then, Minh Nguyet has actively participated in various competitions, gradually affirming her abilities and confidence.

After transferring to Greenfield School Ecopark Campus in Grade 6, Minh Nguyet not only gained access to foundational music knowledge but also found a comprehensive environment that nurtured her passion. Through elective clubs and dozens of projects and competitions each year, she was given ample opportunities to explore and develop her musical talent.

At the Greenfield Music Festival 2024—the largest annual performance competition organized by Greenfield School—Minh Nguyet boldly registered to participate. With the encouragement and support of her homeroom teacher and classmates, she surpassed many contestants in her grade and advanced to the Final Round.

On the most professional stage she had ever performed on, Minh Nguyet chose to present “Mot Vong Viet Nam” (A Journey Around Vietnam). Though slightly shy, the petite girl with glasses impressed the audience with a powerful voice and rare resonance. Her effort earned her First Prize at the Greenfield Music Festival in her very first participation.

Building on that success, at the Greenfield Music Festival 2025, Minh Nguyet challenged herself with the mashup “Phong Nu x Co Doi Thuong Ngan”. Beyond singing, she and her peers also showcased an impressive spirit-possession–inspired dance break. Once again, she claimed the top prize of the competition.

Two consecutive victories at the Greenfield Music Festival gave Minh Nguyet the confidence to step onto larger stages. In 2025, she registered for the Qingyin Award – Youth Music Festival, a competition initiated by the International Arts Education Association and endorsed by the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music (China) and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (Belgium), bringing together more than 200 contestants across various musical categories.

At the Qingyin Award Final Round, Minh Nguyet performed “Into the Unknown”, one of the seven original songs from Disney’s animated musical Frozen 2 (2019). Despite her young age, the judges praised her for a powerful, emotionally rich voice and solid technical control.

Shortly afterward, Minh Nguyet continued her journey by bringing “Co Doi Thuong Ngan” to the Vietnam National Music Festival 2025. Competing on a national stage with over 400 performances and nearly 700 contestants from 17 provinces and cities, her performance fully captivated the judging panel, which included Associate Professors and PhDs from art institutions in Vietnam and the Russian Federation. Ultimately, Minh Nguyet excellently earned the Gold Medal in the Vocal Category.

Spreading Vietnamese culture through music

It is easy to see that in every competition, Minh Nguyet’s performances reflect a delicate blend of traditional Vietnamese culture and modern musical thinking. To her, music is not merely a form of entertainment but a bridge that brings traditional culture closer to younger generations.
“I want to spread my love for Vietnamese culture through every note and lyric,” Minh Nguyet shared.

Alongside vocal training, Minh Nguyet carefully invests in costumes and props, choosing designs rich in Vietnamese cultural identity such as ao dai, conical hats, and hat van performance attire. This simple yet profound aesthetic, deeply rooted in national spirit, has become her distinctive signature on stage.

Minh Nguyet shared that the knowledge gained from History, Literature, Arts, and Culture projects in the Global Citizen Bilingual Programme inspired her to explore fundamental questions: What is identity? Where do our roots come from? How can culture be preserved and promoted?

From there, she has worked to weave together cultural beauty, traditional music, and literary stories into a distinctive narrative thread that elevates her performances. Thus, beyond the encouragement of teachers and friends, the greatest asset she brings to every competition is her deep love for Vietnamese culture.

Minh Nguyet always expresses gratitude to her teachers and classmates. She shared:
“My performances would not be possible without the support of my teachers and friends. The hours of practice together and the sincere feedback from my teachers have helped me continuously improve, expand my stage presence, and better convey my musical messages.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Nhung, Minh Nguyet’s homeroom teacher during Grades 6 and 7, shared:
“Minh Nguyet is not only a student with a beautiful voice but also one with a strong desire to learn and grow. At first, she was quite shy and not yet ready to shine in a new environment. However, through each activity and responsibility assigned within the community, she gradually became more confident. As a result, her voice has become more expressive, and her stage presence increasingly evident.”

Minh Nguyet’s journey is a testament that when cultural identity becomes a foundation, global competence becomes the wings that help young generations soar. From a shy girl with glasses on the Greenfield Music Festival stage years ago, she has now grown into a confident, mature performer on major stages—constantly renewing herself while staying true to her roots.

Wishing Minh Nguyet, with her well-honed resilience, continued success—not only in music but also in the hearts of audiences everywhere.