First Vietnamese Woman to Perform with Yale University's 45-Year-Old Singing Group

Among students and academics in the United States, there is a saying: "Yale University is among the hardest universities in the world to get into, and Whim 'n Rhythm is among the hardest singing groups in the world to join".

Yale University is one of the eight most prestigious and influential universities in the United States, alongside institutions such as Harvard University and Princeton University.

Each year, Yale admits only around 4 to 5 percent of applicants, meaing out of every 100 candidates, only about four or five are accepted. Applicants must demonstrate not only outstanding academic achievement, but also exceptional extracurricular accomplishments, leadership ability, research experience, or special talent.

Founded in 1701, Yale has a long and distinguished history. For much of that history; however, the university was open only to men. It was not until 1969 that Yale began admitting women to its undergraduate programmes.

In 1981, seven female Yale students founded Whim 'n Rhythm, an a cappella group for Yale seniors. The admission of women to Yale and the subsequent creation of Whim 'n Rhythm carried significant meaning for gender equality in academic environments across the United States and around the world.

Becoming a member of Whim 'n Rhythm is extremely competitive. The group accepts only senior students at Yale. Each class consists of approximately 12 to 14 members, selected from among thousands of Yale students as the university's most accomplished soprano and alto singers. All songs are arranged, harmonised, and performed entirely by the members themselves.

Although it is a student organisation, Whim 'n Rhythm boasts an impressive record. The group has toured on nearly every continent, performed at the White House, and sung before former US President Bill Clinton as well as former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

Every year, after graduation, members traditionally embark on a multi-week world tour, making the group one of Yale's unofficial cultural ambassadors.

Only a small number of Vietnamese students have been admitted to and graduated from Yale. During the previous 44 years of Whim 'n Rhythm's history, the group had never included a female member from Vietnam. That changed in its 45th year, when the name "Hai Yen Tran" appeared on the roster for the first time.

As part of its 45th-anniversary world tour, Whim 'n Rhythm visited Viet Nam for the first time and performed on the evening of 13 June at the Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Theatre in Ha Noi. The singers, including Tran Hai Yen, received an especially warm reception from the audience.