The Thunder Bolt

Luna (G10),  recently achieved a significant milestone by earning a gold medal in a prestigious international arts competition that spanned several rounds and countries. Her achievement stands out not only for the recognition it brings but for the remarkable journey and personal growth that accompanied it.

The competition comprised three distinct rounds: the local Hanoi round, followed by the Vietnam National round, and culminating in the global round in Hong Kong, which took place from August 13th to 19th. This global round drew an impressive field of over 4,000 participants from a range of age groups, underscoring the event’s diversity and high level of talent. Luna competed in the 14–16-year-old category, a highly competitive segment, and was required to perform in front of seven judges inside a packed competition room, as one of seven simultaneously running performance spaces. Before joining, Luna spoke with Mr. Wendt, her choir teacher, and Ms. C, her counselor, about the competition, and both encouraged her to participate.

Luna’s involvement in the contest began in 2023 after learning about it from her music teacher. She competed in the Hanoi round for two consecutive years, using her initial experiences to identify strengths and areas needing improvement, before deciding to advance further in the next cycle. For her pivotal performance, she selected the powerful song “Unstoppable” by Sia, motivated by the advice to choose an emotionally strong and upbeat piece that could leave a lasting impression on both judges and audience members.

Despite her prior competition experience, Luna candidly discussed feeling a degree of stage fright, as she was the very first performer in her session. However, she credited her ability to handle pressure to lessons learned and resilience built over multiple years of competition. According to Luna, perseverance is key: “If you persevere, then good results will come to you,” she shared, highlighting the importance of consistent effort and self-betterment.

About 10% of participants received the gold medal honor, making Luna’s success even more meaningful given the competitive environment. Beyond the music, the competition represented much more than just a contest: it was Luna’s first-ever solo trip abroad. She traveled to Hong Kong independently, balancing the excitement (and nerves) of international travel with cultural exploration between competition events.

Luna’s story does not end with this victory. She remains committed to both competition and personal enrichment, with ambitions to participate in other international contests, potentially in Singapore and China in the future. Coupled with her role in the Concordia Hanoi choir and her ongoing musical pursuits—especially her love for pop music and Taylor Swift songs—Luna continues to look for ways to grow as an artist while also embracing new experiences and cultures.

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