Artist Tran Manh Tuan announced that he and his wife traveled to the United States in early May for their daughter's graduation ceremony. "I have never felt prouder. Watching her receive her degree, my wife and I were deeply moved," he stated.
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Artist Tran Manh Tuan and his wife congratulate their daughter on her graduation day, 9/5. Photo: Contributed by subject
According to Tran Manh Tuan, An Tran dedicated her childhood, leisure time, and late nights to pursuing her musical passion at the prestigious institution. "Three decades ago, I was the first Vietnamese student to receive a scholarship to this school," he recalled. "However, I did not graduate with the same distinction as my daughter."
An Tran specialized in sound production engineering and sound design. Her notable academic performance earned her a scholarship worth 45,000 - 50,000 USD annually throughout her studies. In the mid-1990s, artist Tran Manh Tuan was the first Vietnamese student to receive a scholarship from the same institution.
An Tran at her graduation ceremony at Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA on 9/5. Video: Contributed by subject
Established in 1945, Berklee College of Music hosts nearly 7,500 students from 103 countries. It is recognized for its contemporary music and performing arts programs, ranking second globally among music schools, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Numerous alumni have received Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy awards. Notable Vietnamese artists who have attended Berklee include: Tran Manh Tuan, An Tran, musician Duc Tri, and Anna Truong, daughter of musician Anh Quan.
Born in 2004, An Tran's full name is Tran Dam An Phuc. She began her musical journey at four years old, making her saxophone debut on television's "Dau an 2013" music program. At 14, she moved to the US for her studies, focusing on jazz composition, production, and research.
An Tran has performed extensively both domestically and internationally. Her notable appearances include: a solo performance with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra in 2014, the One Jazz Festival in Thailand in 2015, and the APEC Summit in Da Nang in 2017. In 2019, she became the youngest artist invited to perform at the "We Are Asean - We Are One" program during the ASEAN Summit in Thailand.
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An Tran graduated with excellence. Photo: Contributed by subject
Tran Manh Tuan, 56, hails from a musical family, with his parents and sister being cai luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) artists. He is the sole saxophonist to receive five nominations for the Cong hien award. His collaborations include working with: the family of the late musician Trinh Cong Son, Hong Nhung, Bang Kieu, and Tran Thu Ha. He founded the jazz club "Sax n' Art" in TP HCM and served as a judge for Vietnam Idol 2008.
He has released numerous albums, including: "Doc tau Saxophone Tran Manh Tuan" (1997), "Loi ru mat em" (with Vu Quang Trung, Tran Thu Ha, and Bang Kieu, 2000), "Bien khat" (2001), "Ha trang" (2002), "Ve que" (2003), and "Ru ta ngam ngui" (2009). In 2021, he suffered a stroke, underwent three surgeries, and has since gradually recovered and resumed his work.
An Tran performs "Careless Whisper" in a 2023 program. Video: YouTube 8 the theatre
Hoang Dung
