Daniel Abussi, the Associate Director of Admissions, spoke about his impression of the famous saxophonist during a press meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on 13/9. In the mid-1990s, Tran Manh Tuan became the first Vietnamese student to receive a scholarship from Berklee. According to Abussi, Tran Manh Tuan's dedication set him apart.

Artist Tran Manh Tuan (right) in his youth with musician Trinh Cong Son. Photo: Provided by the artist

Before the preliminary round, Tran Manh Tuan researched the required tests, including music reading and a performance video submission. However, his biggest hurdle was English, as his language skills met only about 40% of the requirement. He diligently studied for six months before traveling to the US for the audition. He passed the English test, and his performance was deemed "perfect".

"The admissions faculty aren't concerned with a student's nationality, but rather their level of preparation. When he was accepted into Berklee, Tran Manh Tuan was already a great talent, a remarkable musician," Abussi said. The representative added that during his studies, Tran Manh Tuan explored not only saxophone performance but also music education, stage management, and music production.

After graduating and returning to Vietnam in the early 2000s, Tran Manh Tuan achieved success with a series of high-selling albums. "Ha Trang" (White Summer), one of his most successful albums, sold hundreds of thousands of copies. "Ve Que" (Homecoming), a compilation of classic songs, became his best-selling album. He also composed, produced, and played multiple instruments on the album "Ru Rung" (Lullaby of the Forest). Tran Manh Tuan credits his time at Berklee with enhancing his creative direction.

Tran Manh Tuan in his 50s. Photo: Provided by the artist

His daughter, artist An Tran, followed in his footsteps, attending Berklee in 2021, majoring in Music Production and Engineering (MP&E). She received a scholarship worth 45,000-50,000 USD annually. Recently, due to outstanding achievements, she received a full scholarship for her new major, Sound Design.

Berklee is expanding its recruitment efforts in Vietnam. According to Abussi, Vietnamese students previously had to travel to Hong Kong or Singapore for interviews. Now, Berklee holds auditions directly in Ho Chi Minh City, starting in mid-September and lasting four days. Each year, Berklee allocates 110 million USD for scholarships of varying amounts, depending on the country and the student's abilities, ranging from 20,000 USD to 45,000 USD. Scholarship amounts vary annually and are based on academic performance.

Berklee representative (left) at the event. Photo: Mai Nhat

Tran Manh Tuan, 55, comes from a musical family; his parents and sister are Cai Luong (Vietnamese folk opera) artists. He is the only saxophonist to be nominated five times for the Cong Hien (Dedication) Music Award. He has collaborated with numerous artists, including the family of the late musician Trinh Cong Son, Hong Nhung, Bang Kieu, and Tran Thu Ha. He founded the Sax n' Art jazz club in Ho Chi Minh City and served as a judge for Vietnam Idol in 2008.

He has released dozens of albums, including "Doc Tau Saxophone Tran Manh Tuan" (Tran Manh Tuan Saxophone Solo) (1997), "Loi Ru Mat Em" (Lullaby for Your Eyes) with Vu Quang Trung, Tran Thu Ha, and Bang Kieu (2000), "Bien Khat" (Thirsty Sea) (2001), "Ha Trang" (2002), "Ve Que" (2003), and "Ru Ta Ngam Nguoi" (Lullaby of Sorrow) (2009). In 2021, he suffered a stroke and underwent three surgeries, after which he gradually recovered and returned to work.

Berklee College of Music, founded in 1945, has nearly 7,500 students from 103 countries and territories. It is renowned for its contemporary music and performing arts education, ranking second among the world's best music schools, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Many of its alumni have won Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. In addition to Tran Manh Tuan and An Tran, musician Duc Tri and Anna Truong, daughter of musician Anh Quan, are among the Vietnamese artists who have studied there.

Mai Nhat