The Dutch Harp Festival (DHF) World Harp Competition was founded in 2010 and takes place every two years.[1] The competition is open to all harpists regardless of age, nationality and musical genre.[2] The finals are held live at the Dutch Harp Festival in the Netherlands. In 2024 the semifinals were also held in the Netherlands over two days as the beginning of the Dutch Harp Festival.[3]
| World Harp Competition | |
|---|---|
| Location | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Presented by | Dutch Harp Festival |
| First awarded | 2010 |
| Website | https://www.worldharpcompetition.com/ |
History edit
The DHF World Harp Competition began in 2010 and was named the Dutch Harp Competition. It followed the traditional classical format where candidates played from a set repertoire. In 2018 the competition changed its name to World Harp Competition and the format was changed to a new model in which candidates create their own 45-minute program showcasing not only their technical quality but also their unique style, creativity and their ability to connect with their audience.[1][2][4]
Organizers edit
Elizabeth Jaxon is the director for the World Harp Competition. She is also one of the board member for the Dutch Harp Festival along with Remy van Kesteren, Gert Wijnalda and Paul Hooijmans.[5]
Format edit
There are four rounds in the competition: a recorded Preliminary Round, a Video Round, live Semifinals, and live Finals. For the first round, contestants submit an audio recording of them playing a piece of their choice. The recording submissions are made anonymous before the judges listen to them to choose the candidates who are invited to the video round. Up to 14 candidates from the video round are invited to the live semifinals where they will play their full 45-minute programme. Based on the results of the semifinal, three finalists are chosen to present a 15-minute program of their choice.[2]
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes are awarded by the judges based on the candidate's performances in the semifinals and finals. Members of the public are also invited to vote for a candidate of their choice to receive the audience award. Each of the finalists receives a cash prize and the winner also receives further support from the Care, Coaching, and Career (CCC) development program.[2]
Competition winners edit
| Year | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize | Audience Award | Special Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kevin Le Pennec,  France
|
Amy Nam,  USA
|
Ariel Sol, USA
|
Kevin Le Pennec, France
|
|
| 2022 [8][9] | Juanjo Corbalán,  Paraguay
|
Julie Rokseth,  Norway
|
Maria Sá Silva,  Portugal
|
Julie Rokseth, Norway
|
|
| 2020 / 2021[8] | Uno Alexander Vesje, Norway
|
Romy Wymer,  Netherlands
|
Grace Roepke, USA
|
Romy Wymer, Netherlands
|
4th Prize: Tara Minton,  Australia
|
| 2018[8] | César Secundino,  Mexico
|
Alice Belugou, France/  Switzerland
|
Aimee Hang Yu Lam,  Hong Kong
|
César Secundino, Mexico
|
|
| 2016[8] | Emmanuel Padilla Holguín, Mexico
|
Jean-Baptiste Haye, France
|
Giulia Ott, Switzerland
|
Emmanuel Padilla Holguín, Mexico
|
|
| 2014[8] | Juliana Myslov,  UK
|
Markus Thalheimer,  Germany
|
Shiho Minami,  Japan
|
Juliana Myslov, UK
|
|
| 2012[8] | Amandine Carbuccia, France
|
Sarah Verrue,  Belgium
|
Ruth Bennett, UK/ USA
|
Amandine Carbuccia, France
|
Festival Classique Originality Award: Anna Steinkochler,  Austria
|
| 2010[8] | Noël Wan, USA
|
Rino Kageyama, Japan
|
Eleanor Turner, UK
|
Noël Wan, USA
|
Semifinalists edit
2024 edit
- Llywelyn Ifan Jones (United Kingdom)
- Kevin Le Pennec (France)
- Ruth Lee (United Kingdom)
- Katia Mestrovic (Australia)
- Océane Minder (Switzerland)
- Amy Nam (USA)
- Dafne Paris (Netherlands)
- Fiona Rutherford (United Kingdom)
- Ariel Sol Bertulfo Schwartz (USA)
- Alexander Thomas (United Kingdom)
- Emma Thomazeau (France)
2022 edit
- Héloïse Carlean-Jones (France)
- Juan Corbalán (Paraguay)
- Cara Dawson (UK/Germany)
- Maria Sá Silva (Portugal)
- Julie Rokseth (Norway)
- Nathania Ko (Canada)
2020 edit
- ?
2018 edit
- Alice Belugou (France/Switzerland)
- Abigail Kent (USA)
- Aimee Hang Yu Lam (Hong Kong/UK)
- Rosanna Moore (UK)
- Pia Salvia (Belgium)
- Cesar Secundino (Mexico)
- Uno Alexander Vesje (Norway)
- Oliver Wass (UK)
2016 edit
- Miriam Ruf (Germany)
- Kana Onishi (Japan)
- Emmanuel Padilla Holguín (Mexico)
- Aurélie Bouchard (France)
- Nick Scholten (Netherlands)
- Giulia Ott (Switzerland)
- Beate Loonstra (Netherlands)
- Jean-Baptiste Haye (France)
References edit
- ^ a b "Utrecht - World Harp Competition".
- ^ a b c d "About the Competition".
- ^ "DHF World Harp Competition announces 2024 semifinalists".
- ^ Dutch Harp Festival 2018, archived from the original on 28 April 2024
- ^ "Dutch Harp Festival: Our team".
- ^ Dutch Harp Festival: World Harp Competition, archived from the original on 21 April 2024
- ^ "DHF World Harp Competition announces prize winners".
- ^ a b c d e f g "Dutch Harp Festival: Past Winners".
- ^ "2022 World Harp Competition announces winners".
- ^ "DHF World Harp Competition announces 2024 semifinalists".
- ^ "World Harp Competition names semifinalists".
- ^ "DHF World Harp Competition announces Semifinalists".
- ^ "Dutch Harp Competition Results".