Biography

Dustin Tiêu, whose full name is Tiêu Nguyễn Đức Anh, is a young conductor in Vietnam. After graduating with a professional intermediate piano degree from the Gracias Music Preparatory School (South Korea), Dustin spent 4 years studying at the Mahanaim Conservatory (New York, USA) before returning to Vietnam to establish his career. With experience in not only studying conducting professionally but also engaging in hands-on practice—from working in media, selling tickets, performing as a musician, organizing productions, assisting teachers, arranging rehearsals with orchestras—he founded the Imagine Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) in 2019.
Speaking about this very special position of conductor, Dustin Tiêu explained: “A conductor is like a philosopher who studies the philosophies of the author, researches the history of the musical notes that the composer wishes to convey. They create a picture for the musician’s story through their own perspective and guide the musicians to deliver it to the audience.”
Dustin has completed training in choral and orchestral conducting with top educators from Yale University and the National Academy of Music in Bulgaria. He is currently studying under the tutelage of Conductor NSƯT Trần Vương Thạch and was once one of the youngest conductors to reach the semifinals in the annual competition organized by the New York Chamber Orchestra.
The talented young conductor chose to return to Vietnam to develop his career, much to the surprise of friends and colleagues. Sharing about this “risky” decision, Dustin Tiêu confessed, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I considered giving up on the musical path, partly because pursuing a master’s degree is costly, and I wasn’t sure about a bright future. In the U.S., I deeply felt that they have a very distinctive culture, and new ideas about imagery or entertainment elements in orchestras were not accepted. Moreover, I did not have many connections in the U.S. music industry.
The journey to build a music career back in Vietnam was not easy. Dustin Tiêu recalled, “I started looking for musicians in Ho Chi Minh City and sold 80 tickets for my first symphony concert, each ticket costing only 300,000 VND. Since the payment for musicians wasn’t competitive, I had to persuade them with my vision and passion for the show. And so my first symphony night took place at Mai House Saigon and reignited my fire.”
Attendees expressed enjoyment seeing an orchestra comprised entirely of young musicians. This model sustained for about a year. For Vietnamese audiences, it’s essential to gradually introduce new cultural elements. During this process, Dustin also remembered ideas from the U.S., such as performances with higher entertainment value, prompting him to incorporate film music into concerts to reach a broader audience.
Speaking about his first project, IPO encompasses the keyword “Philharmonic,” which describes communities of music lovers often used for large orchestras in the U.S., France, etc. In Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, where there isn’t such a robust ecosystem, Dustin had to imagine, visualize, and make it a reality, hence the origin of the other keyword: Imagine.
Dustin Tiêu breathed new life into IPO’s symphonic performances by integrating more accessible genres or “reimagining” soundtracks from popular films, resonating with the youth through classical instruments. IPO has delivered many noteworthy concerts in 2023, performing music from famed films like those from Studio Ghibli and the Final Fantasy game series. Recently, he was also the conductor chosen by actress Diễm My 9x to lead the orchestra at her wedding celebration.
Recently, Dustin Tiêu and the Imagine Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) organized an emotional concert titled Dear Ghibli, My Friend. This performance brought familiar melodies from Studio Ghibli’s classic films to audiences in Hanoi in a unique way. Maintaining the original spirit of Ghibli’s film music, Dustin Tiêu and IPO introduced improvisations in the composition and structure, providing an emotionally rich experience for the capital’s audience.
Regarding future plans, Dustin Tiêu is currently focusing largely on symphonic concerts utilizing film music as the main material to connect with a broader audience. Once audiences become ardent fans, they will gradually acclimate to and embrace more academically-inclined symphony nights. He has also recently signed an exclusive commercial exploitation contract with Bamboo Artists Agency, opening new opportunities for this talented Gen Z conductor.