Music of Peace - Yamaha and NEXO Help Vietnam’s Buddhists Celebrate

In May 2024, Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Cultural Committee marked the 2568th birthday of the Buddha with a special concert in the Vietnamese capital. Live and broadcast audio were mixed on a Yamaha DM7 console, with a NEXO PA system bringing the sound of peace and healing to the live audience.

An audience of over 2000 gathered for the outdoor concert by An Symphony at the Vietnam National Temple, Ho Chi Minh City. Titled Thuyền Từ Qua Bến Giác (The Compassion Boat Reaches the Enlightenment Shore).

An Symphony is a musical collaboration, whose Zen music carries a message of healing and positive values, which it hopes will help to build a peaceful society.

The event opened with a speech by Venerable Thich Tri Chon, Head of the Cultural Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, who also directed the concert program.

This was followed by elaborately staged performances of sutras, poems and Buddhist songs performed by the TUSO Symphony Orchestra, in a unique musical production which aimed to give attendees moments of peace as well as celebration of the Buddha's birthday.

Event organizer Apex Media commissioned Mr Than Nguyen, CEO of Prosound Center Viet Nam to manage the sound production.

“This was a very important event for Vietnamese Buddhists so, as well as the live concert PA, we also produced a broadcast mix which allowed people from all over the country to enjoy it,” says Mr Than.

Mr Than chose a Yamaha DM7 digital mixer for the production’s live and broadcast sound, along with a NEXO system for the live sound. This comprised 18 STM28 and eight STM S118, powered by NEXO NXAmp 4x4s, and was provided by Vietnamese AV rental company Vy Phuong.

“The music of An Symphony demands meticulous detail for both instruments and lead vocals, as well as the choir,” says Mr Than. “The setup delivered incredibly detailed and smooth sound.

“With an intuitive user interface, neat design and a powerful, comprehensive feature set, the Yamaha DM7 series is perfectly suited for TV shows, concert performances music production and mixed online events.”