Don't limit your dreams
I want young Vietnamese artists to dare to dream bigger dreams" is the sharing of artist Erin Bouriakov, co-founder of VIFF, when talking about what she expects after the first VIFF in Vietnam.
For Ms. Erin, the value of the festival lies in the fact that young people are placed in a wide enough environment to see previously unfamiliar abilities; learn directly from international artists, observe how they work, process works and build their own artistic voice. "Music is not for just one person. Music belongs to all of us," she said.
That spirit is present throughout the days of VIFF taking place at New World Phu Quoc Resort recently. Besides the competition rounds, the schedule is built with foundation classes, masterclasses, professional exchanges and concerts. There, Grammy-winning artists not only come to perform or judge, but also directly sit with students, listen to each performance, correct each line of music and share experiences that can only be accumulated over many years on stage. For many young Vietnamese talents, that is a rare opportunity.
Phan Nguyen Minh Trang, a flute lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City International School, said that the appearance of an international festival dedicated to flute art in Vietnam has opened an important door for domestic learners.
“Previously, to exchange and learn from leading artists in the world, many people had to go abroad. Today, those artists have come to Vietnam. I think that is a very positive step forward for the development of academic music in Vietnam,” she said.
The distance is shortened not only geographically. International performance standards that were once only present through recordings, videos online or study trips abroad, have now become a direct experience. Learners are listened to, dialogued and received feedback directly from artists whom they previously only knew through international stages.
Phu Quoc brings world art closer to Vietnamese talent
What VIFF creates is not only an opportunity to learn for young Vietnamese talents. In the eyes of many international artists, VIFF held in Phu Quoc also opens up a new rendezvous for the world flute community, where the Phu Quoc sea and sky space has become a catalyst, strongly inspiring for artistic dialogues.
First time to Phu Quoc, Sebastian Jacot, a Swiss artist belonging to the group of the best flute artists in the world today, assessed VIFF as one of the "healthiest" festivals he has ever attended.
Every day we can swim in the sea, train in the gym, enjoy very delicious and healthy meals. To be honest, what makes me most "worried" is that sometimes I feel like I'm on vacation, while in reality I still have to step on stage to perform. That's probably a rather dangerous feeling for an artist," he shared humorously.
Taiwanese (China) artist Tzu-Chi Chao believes that the most memorable thing at VIFF is not only the professional quality, but also the space for artists to truly meet and connect. Phu Quoc is not only a setting but has become a part of VIFF's art experience this year, where after-school conversations by the sea or sunset concerts continue to nurture connections beyond the framework of a festival.
VIFF 2026 recorded many impressive performances from contestants from many countries. At the end of the competition rounds, the judges awarded the First Prize in the Junior category to Chenxuan Shen (China), the MH Division category to Aya Seino (Japan) and the Young Artist category to Ayane Ninomiya (Japan).
The organizers also officially announced the main artist of VIFF 2027 as Loïc Schneider - one of the world's leading flute artists today, currently holding the position of main flute artist of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. This is also an appointment for the community of artists and flute lovers to return to Phu Quoc next year, continuing to write the journey of an international music festival that is gradually affirming its position.
Firstly organized in Vietnam with the companionship of Sun Group, VIFF not only brings top world flute artists to Phu Quoc, but also opens up a rare exchange space between artists, lecturers and young domestic talents. In the context of more and more international cultural and artistic events coming to Pearl Island, VIFF has added a new mark, showing that Phu Quoc is not only a destination for resorts or tourism, but is gradually becoming a rendezvous for international-scale art activities.
Closing a week of festivals, the flute sounds have now subsided, but what VIFF opens up will probably last longer: a door for Vietnamese flute art to get closer to the world, and also a message to young people as Ms. Erin Bouriakov expected: dare to nurture bigger dreams, because now, the distance between Vietnam and the world is no longer as far as before.
