The Young Artist’s Harp Competition named winners of its 2020 event, held virtually in June. Janice Hur of South Korea won first place in the Emerging Artist Division (maximum age 19), and Sophia Jho of the United States received first place in the New Artist Division (maximum age 14). Other prizewinners in the Emerging Artist Division include Subin Lee of South Korea, second place (tie); Yuet Kan of Hong Kong, second place (tie); and Lauren Swain of the United States, third place. Other prizewinners in the New Artist Division include Joshua Ho of the United States, second place; and Jocelyn Chang of the United States, third place. In the Preparatory Division (maximum age 11), Emma Valdez of the United States received honorable mention. Competition winners will participate in an online recital on July 8 at 8 pm EST.
The Young Artist’s Harp Competition judges this year were Heidi Bearcroft, principal harpist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Jaymee Haefner, director of undergraduate studies and associate professor of harp at the University of North Texas; Andrea Mumm, principal harp with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Music Festival; and Angela Schwarzkopf, course instructor at the University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould School of Music, and harp instructor at McMaster University.
The Young Artist’s Harp Competition is held every other year in conjunction with the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar in Gambier, Ohio. The seminar was launched in 2007 “as a way to encourage young harpists to strive for a high level of artistic achievement by providing them with an open forum for performance, positive feedback, and nurturing competition.” For more information about the program, visit harpseminar.com.
