(VOVworld)- More than 60 foreign and Vietnamese guitarists are playing at the 3rd International Guitar Festival which opened in HCM City on December 7. Organised by the HCM City Music Conservatory, the festival will last until December 11.

Guitarist Nguyen Thanh Huy will perform at the 3rd International Guitar Festival in HCM City (Photo: Internet)

Highlighted artists include Naoki Ikuta of Japan, Callum Henshaw of Australia, Andras Csaki of Hungary and Vietnamese-Australian Le Hoang Minh.

Both Andras and Minh have been first-prize winners at the Tokyo Guitar Contest, one of the world’s most prestigious guitar competitions. 

The artists will stage three concerts: Espanol & Latino, Andras Csaki & Saigon Guitar Quartet and Le Hoang Minh-Robert Trent & Duo Firenze, featuring Spanish and Latin music.

Young Vietnamese guitarists will play folk works written by Dang Ngoc Long and Hai Thoai that are in praise of life and love.

They will also join artists from the US and Thailand to perform Ballad and Tango, a popular piece from the Dance Suite by English composer Mark Hougton.

"We hope to take our music to the public, especially young audiences. We also want to help Vietnamese guitarists improve," said Nguyen Thanh Huy, a guitarist and deputy head of the conservatory’s Guitar and Accordion Department, and member of the organising board.

The festival will include workshops and master classes from experienced guitarists.

The shows are taking place at the conservatory’s music hall at 112 Nguyen Du Street in District 1. Tickets are available at the box office.