post-Australia's Got Talent first round

Hello my lovelies!
So i can't say too much because i don't want to spoil the show but yesterday was the first round of filming for Australia's Got Talent Season 4.

It started early with a 5:30am make up and hair call of which i have to thank Miss. Khiet Ngan of Glamour World Beauty (484 Hume Hwy, Yagoona) for coming to me and doing it all and making me feel glamorous! Slipped on the dress of which i MUST thank my stylist Miss. Nicola Kent of Feeni PR (www.feenipr.com.au) for putting me in the Maurie & Eve Rumours Dress (LOVED IT!).

We went overtime with hair and make up so i didnt rock up to the Lyric Theatre until 8:15am of which there was already a nice long queue of people trying to get through for all the administration/registration and pre-interviews.

The rest of the day was just a LONG day of pre-interviews, i had to wait for a total of 12 hours until i played and then just went home to crash. Thank you to David Rowley who was with me the whole day, my parents for coming to support and do the interviews


I'm through to the next round which just means it is the 'judges deliberation session' - not necessarily the semi-finals but it was such a fun experience and fingers crossed the outcome is all well and good and I proceed.

Met some awesome contestants, talents, some crazy nutters and maybe the next Susan Boyle? (literally - i think she drew inspiration from Susan because she almost looked identical!).

Thank you for all of your support - i have felt so warm and fuzzy all round knowing that there are that many people supporting - i'm so sorry we couldn't get any tickets for ANYONE that i know of whom applied but if i do proceed, i will make sure you are the first to know! xx
Til next time
Much much love and grace always,
Van-Anh

Antipodes .. YIPPEEE!!!

I have THE BEST water in my hand ... Antipodes .. I even like their still water which is saying something ... so you can all guess what i'll be doing next week :) Yep, ordering home delivery of Antipodes straight from New Zealand !!! YAY! And I must thank Holy Basil of Canley Heights for introducing me to it! I'm a full convert - all this Pellegrino, Perrier stuff ... u got NOTHING on the Antipoes :)

Tomorrow is the first filming round of Australia's Got Talent and i'm actually starting to feel excited. I don't think it hit me until i woke up this morning ... actually, at dinner last night with the girls from Glamour World Beauty (FANTASTIC beauticians!!! shout out to Ms. Thao Le and her girls for making me feel beautiful!). They were even more excited than me and it got me thinking in the mindset! Make the most of the moment!

Also playing with Aston (Warner Music signed) next week which will be fun!

My obsession with water continues ... only because everyone knows i HATE normal water, even bottled water is a bit urghhh ... so i found the best site to trawl and try out new Artesian water:
www.finewaters.com

Go nuts kids! I did! hehe.
Time to go back to teaching so signing off for now.
With love and grace,
a very excited Van-Anh
xoxo

Chinese and viet new year

Happy new year for those who are celebrating the lunar year ... For those who aren't, you should :) it's lots of food, red pockets, dragon dancing and awesome music!!!


This was the scene at Canley heights as I drove through to work this morning ... New tears eve and everyone is frantic to get food stocked up for the new year!!!
We are performing at chua Phuoc Hue, biggest celebration!!! I can't wait!!! 10pm we are gonna rok the joint :)
Have an awesome tiger year !!!! Peace, love, red pockets and all beauties in life!!! Live it to the fullest because you never know what's round the corner waiting for you :) xxx

- smiling at life from my iPhone :)
Signing out,
Van-Anh

Mondayitis

What horrid vibes on a Monday! I guess the lack of sleep and middle of the night calls don't helpbut thank god for middle of the night calls. Always nice to hear voices from overseas :)
I've not woken up early on a Monday mornin in SUCH a long time! Never will, especially when it's raining and people can't drive and cause accidents! So what happens today, 2 hours in traffic all for nothing! Sigh!
That's my rant for the day :) all better now :) now to design a new dress and make my wedding clients happy with thieir music - people ask me why I don't be a wedding planner after all the expos. For the life of me, friends are fine but those bridezillas out there - no thanks! :) I'm happy with just providing the music.
That's all from me for now! Toodles :)

life is a song!

This morning whilst driving at an ungodly hour for a musician ;), i decided, life is a song! You can answer any sentence with the title of a song and it will make you laugh!
So many things have happened since my last post which was in Vietnam I don't even know WHERE to start!
The International Artist Academy has started in Sydney and we commence lessons tomorrow (Feb 8th) for the first term! Piano, Singing, Violin, Cello, Flute, Guitar, song-writing and MORE! It is so exciting to be part of this team! Check us out at www.iaaonline.com.au for all the details.
I've travelled back and forth interstate, spent time in the Dandenongs in treehouses, had crazy roadtrips where we visited Glenrowan where Ned Kelly was caught, visited lovely wineries and I found my new favourite wine from Margaret River, 2004 Mad Fish Shiraz!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT :) (although the St. Darenberg Vintage 2004 Shiraz is still up there in the top 3!!!) :D :D :D
Vietnamese/Chinese New Year comes up and we're doing performances at the Phuoc Hue Temple (13th Feb 10pm), Fairfield Showground Vietnamese New Year festival (19th Feb 9pm) and pretty much following that are more classical gigs.
The classical crossover stuff, i am really excited about and can't WAIT to show you guys some stuff! I think it was this concept which has been brewing in my brain for so long that once the stuff was out, I got so excited and I'm STILL excited to see what else comes out. The creative juices are flowing so it is all wonderful.
I am so very lucky to be in a wonderful space. I feel sorry for those people who have such wonderful 'ideas' but never implement them because unless you get off your arse and start doing something about it, no matter how much you think things come naturally for you whether its fashion, music, business ventures or films, JUST DO IT! (not stealing Nike's tag but honestly, JUST DO IT!). You might feel better rather than drink your sorrows away not knowing that that was what you were doing!

Anyways, enough ramble from moi!
Stay smiling, healthy and love life, because there is so much coloring to do in life!!!
kisses,
Van-Anh

Villa FB ... tis the life

Sitting at the Villa FB in Saigon, i am just reminded of how i miss Vietnam and also how much it has progressed. There are parts of me which is just baffled at what is being built, next to pretty much slums...
having said that, the Villa FB (Fashion, fusion, Bun) is possibly the classiest joint Vietnam has seen! Reminding me of parts of the Ivy but peeled back, relaxing, clothes by DMC and just lovin' the laid back tropical fruit smoothies.

The hard work has been done, recording for 2 days and now talking with various musicians and people in the industry here.

All I can say right now is ... i'm hungry and i need food :)
toodles for now!
xx
V-A from Vietnam!

on break...

...yeah right. Break from piano practice for the next fiver, not from anything else. FULL FORCE AHEAD!
I still can't believe it is middle of September now!! Ridiculous. The year has honestly flown by, yet so many things have happened. All wonderful things.
I'm off to Adelaide next week for the Love Heart Fashion Show, in aid of Heart Reach Australia. I can't wait because we're showcasing three amazing designers:
Leonardo Salinas (www.leonardosalinas.com)
George Wu (www.georgewu.com)
and
Paolo Sebastian (www.paolosebastian.com)

Here are details for those we are Adelaidians or want to come to Adelaide for a wonderful night:

Where: Observatory Hotel
When: Thursday 17th September 2009
Time: starting 7pm
Featuring: three stunning designers for Spring/Summer 09-10 along with live performances by myself (piano), Thanh Bui (vocals), Sally Cooper (violin) and DJ Terence.
Cost: $50 including drinks and canapes all night!!
Limited tickets sold at the door. Please see Leap Market Solutions for pre-sold tickets.

Thank you to Nicky Kent of Leap Market Solutions who is doing an amazing job organising the event.
Thanks to our amazing sponsors, Gary Castle Shoes Sydney, of course our designers, Thanh Bui, Sally Cooper, DJ Terence (Adelaide), Allans Music Adelaide, Nova Adelaide and everyone who is on board.

From there, i'm off to Brisbane again for the South-East QLD Concerto Competition Finals held @ Redlands Performing Arts Centre! Can't wait to play Rach-Pag again!!!

Anyways, time is running low and i need to get my butt back onto that piano seat!! such a glamorous life with the Boston piano ;)

Love and light, stay smiling and catch you all out there rockin' your socks off!
Yours always,
Van-Anh