Singing with Do N.

Hi! My name is Nam. I am a Music Major at Pomona College, specializing in Vocal Performance. Music, especially music education, has always been my passion. As a singer, I have performed, both solo and in choral ensembles, at prestigious concert venues such as Carnegie Hall, National Cathedral, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam and many others. Throughout high school, I was a section leader in my high school choir, lead singer in a selective acapella ensemble, and sang with the National Youth Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall and the Hanoi Conservatory Chamber Choir. I won high acclaims in many vocal competitions and festivals in both Vietnam and the US. Last summer, I was one of five singers in Vietnam chosen as a Steinway and Sons Vocal Fellow. During this program, I participated in masterclasses, learned vocal pedagogy and performed a hour-long recital comprised of art songs and opera arias at the Steinway Concert Hall in Hanoi. Now at Pomona College, I am furthering my musicianship and continuing my vocal studies. As a music educator, I have taught private lessons and conducted youth choral ensembles for 4 years. For the past 2 years, I have studied conducting and vocal pedagogy with the faculty at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music. I conduct an advanced youth chorus in Vietnam every summer, and founded a non-profit organization to provide choral education to Vietnamese children that has received national acclaim. I have taught children and adults of all ages and varying skill level, from beginner to intermediate/advanced repertoire learning. In my private lessons, I focus on developing musicianship skills, musical sensibilities and proper vocal techniques (breathing, posture, diction...). For younger students, I use the Kodaly method and ear training to teach basic musicianship and intonation, and focus on helping them develop strong foundational techniques through fun vocal warmups and exercises. For older students, I focus on eliminating any bad vocal habits and developing musical sensibilities. For more advanced students, I work with them on age/vocally-appropriate repertoire in genres such as classical, jazz, pop and Broadway. I realize that every student have a different idea of what they want to get out of lessons, so I am willing to tailor my lessons for specific individual needs. I believe that music-making is a fun and transformative experience that everyone should (and can) take part in!