Awarded the title of People's Artist at the age of 75, Colonel Duong Minh Duc is still tirelessly devoted to the path of art and education. With 44 years of dedication to teaching and theater, he is considered a shining example of dedication to art and training at the Military University of Culture and Arts.

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From a mechanical engineer, People's Artist Duong Minh Duc pursued his passion for music and became a recognized artist with many achievements. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

The artist born from the battlefield

Born in 1949 in Saigon under special circumstances, when his mother had to disguise herself to go to the city to give birth and then immediately return to the war zone, Duong Minh Duc grew up in a revolutionary environment. His father - Meritorious Artist Duong Minh Dau, was the Political Commissar of the 82nd Regiment of South Central Vietnam, and later the first Director of the Army Film Studio.

In 1954, according to the Geneva Agreement, his parents gathered in the North. A year later, 6-year-old Duong Minh Duc was brought to Hanoi via Cambodia to reunite with his family. His childhood was associated with many different educational environments: from the Public Sports Union, the Southern Children's Camp to the Nguyen Van Troi Military Academy.

The "strange" path to music and remarkable achievements

What is special is that before becoming an artist, Duong Minh Duc graduated from the Military Technical University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. In 1972, while still a student, he won the Gold Medal at the First All-Army Performance.

"I entered the Vietnam Music School like a deaf person who is not afraid of guns. At that time, I didn't even know what a piano was," People's Artist Duong Minh Duc recalled. However, with his innate talent, he was given special admission to the university program of the school in 1976.

He once shared about his father's orientation: "It's not that he didn't support me in pursuing an artistic career, but because I didn't fully understand it when I was young. He is an artist so he understands what an artist needs to have. That's why he wanted me to finish university, have a certain knowledge and cultural foundation, and then learn to be an artist."

People's Artist Duong Minh Duc's career was marked by many important awards. In 1980, he won the Gold Medal at the National Professional Singing Competition and Third Prize at the Red Carnation Competition in Sochi (Soviet Union) with the work Afternoon on the Harbor . His tenor voice has resounded on many international stages from Cuba to the Soviet Union.

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His educational philosophy of "training cultured artists" instead of "singers" is a valuable lesson for current art training, when many young people tend to chase after quick success while ignoring the fundamentals. Photo: QĐND Newspaper

44 years on the podium

In 1980, after graduating from vocal music, People's Artist Duong Minh Duc worked at the Military College of Culture and Arts (now the Military University of Culture and Arts). Here, he worked until his retirement as Vice Principal and Head of the Vocal Music Department.

"A teacher not only teaches professional knowledge but most importantly, also teaches the culture of the artist," People's Artist Duong Minh Duc shared about his teaching philosophy. To him, society needs singers with culture, not just entertainers or singers.

His teaching method is always highly appreciated by his students for its dedication and science. "To teach students to become artists, teachers must also be role models for students to look up to," he confided. For People's Artist Duong Minh Duc, "being a teacher does not mean knowing everything, being better than students, so one must constantly learn."

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People's Artist Duong Minh Duc is a valuable example of progress and enthusiasm for the profession, especially in today's rapidly developing technology era. Photo: Document

"Nowadays, music is rich, constantly updated with trends. There are new music genres and styles that I have not learned, but I have to learn and research myself to know why young people like them, to guide my students," he shared about his spirit of continuous learning.

Under the guidance of Colonel, People's Artist Duong Minh Duc, many famous artists have grown up such as People's Artist Hong Hanh (Director of the Army Music and Dance Theater), Meritorious Artist Vu Thang Loi, Meritorious Artist Luong Huy, Kasim Hoang Vu, Meritorious Artist Thuy Noi, Huong Mo...

Although he is 76 years old, he still maintains a schedule of teaching 6 sessions per week at 2 schools: Vietnam National Academy of Music and Military University of Culture and Arts. With his great contributions to Vietnamese art and education, People's Artist Duong Minh Duc deserves to be a shining example for generations of young artists to follow.

People's Artist Duong Minh Duc performs "Afternoon on the harbor":

Minh Dung (synthesis)

People's Artist Thu Huyen talks about the play 'Tears of Trang Quynh' People's Artist Thu Huyen shares: "The spirit of the Theater is to always create opportunities for young artists to express themselves".