The Toronto International Harp Festival—a.k.a. iHarpFest—takes place July 11–12, 2026, with its Summer Institute happening July 6–10. We asked some of this year’s featured performers to tell us what makes this festival a unique event and what they’re most looking forward to.
Kathleen Bride
“The Toronto International Harp Festival stands out for its two engaging and complementary components: a week-long Summer Institute for developing harpists—offering daily training, theory classes, harp ensemble, studio performance opportunities, and explorations of harp history—followed by a full festival weekend featuring national and international soloists in concerto performances with the National Broadcasting Orchestra in Toronto.
Hearing leading artists perform live is a rare and valuable opportunity to discover harp repertoire, including works that are seldom heard. These artists will also present masterclasses for aspiring young musicians, sharing the depth of their knowledge and artistry. One of the festival’s highlights is the “50 Harps. One Sound. Toronto Voices Unite.” ensemble concert, where the extraordinary resonance of the harp is magnified 50 times! An experience truly not to be missed.
I look forward to building on the success of last year’s festival and welcoming everyone back to Toronto. I warmly invite you all to the incredible Toronto International Harp Festival 2026!
Catherine Michel
“It is always a pleasure to share music with the younger generation. My participation in educational projects such as the Toronto International Harp Festival and its Summer Institute reflects my desire to pass on what I have learned from my teachers—my mother, A. Le Dû, and Pierre Jamet from my studies at the Paris Conservatory.
As former principal harpist with Radio France and the Paris Opera, I had the privilege of working with some of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. These experiences now enable me to guide young harpists both technically and musically, especially in preparing for auditions and professional careers. The classical harp repertoire is central to my teaching, as it provides a strong technical foundation from which students can approach any other kinds of music.
My philosophy aligns closely with that of my colleagues at the Toronto International Harp Festival, whose commitment to excellence, transmission, and discovery makes it a meaningful platform to inspire our audience, and support the next generation of harpists.
I invite you to join me for a special performance of the Ravel Introduction et Allegro at the Toronto International Harp Festival 2026—one of the most elegant and brilliant jewels of our repertoire. This piece is especially close to my heart, I am close to the family of the harpist who first performed it in 1907. It will be a true joy to share this music with you and celebrate the French harp tradition.
Andrew Chan
“I’m thrilled to welcome everyone to the Toronto International Harp Festival 2026 for a weeklong celebration of music, artistry, and community set in the heart of our vibrant city. From the breathtaking performance “50 Harps. One Sound” to our grand “Harp Concerto Night” with the National Broadcast Orchestra, and the imaginative productions “Harpist to Her Majesty: A Victorian Tribute” and “Harp Meets Theatre,” our festival reveals the harp’s stunning versatility across classical, historical, and theatrical stages.
Building on our previous success and alongside its sister divisions, the Summer Harp Institute and international competition, iHarpFest continues to bring together leading harpists from around the world to perform, teach, and inspire, such as Kathleen Bride, Jana Boušková, Sarah Bullen, Huw Boucher, Rita Costanzi, Frances Duffy, Catherine Michel, Shamin Minoo, and more. We invite you to experience Toronto as a global harp capital, where heritage and innovation unite in one extraordinary week of artistry and celebration.
Jana Boušková
“The Toronto International Harp Festival is a truly unique celebration of the harp and its artistic diversity. What makes it so special is not only the exceptional level of performance, but also the inspiring atmosphere and the sense of connection between musicians from all over the world.
This year, I am especially honored to present a solo harp concerto by the Czech composer Jean Baptist Krumpholz. As a Czech harpist, it brings me great joy to share music that is so close to my heart and to represent Czech musical heritage on an international stage. I am truly grateful to have been invited with this repertoire.
I am also very much looking forward to giving masterclasses and meeting young talented harpists. These encounters are always deeply inspiring and meaningful.
Festivals like this remind us how powerful music can be in bringing people together and creating lasting artistic and human connections.
I am very happy to be part of the Toronto International Harp Festival this year, and I warmly invite you all to join me!
Sarah Bullen
“Looking forward to being part of the Toronto International Harp Festival this summer and hearing the talent of tomorrow. It’s an exciting time for harp performance, and playing has never been at a higher level than it is today. We’ll be honoring our history and the past legends of the harp world, including my own teachers Marcel Grandjany, Mildred Dilling, and Susann McDonald.
The harp was vitally important to my development and was there as a great need of expression, discipline and direction that I pursued my entire life. It remains my compass and inspiration. I am honored to be part of the rich legacy of the harp community through my experiences as a performer and teacher. See you at the Toronto International Harp Festival!
Rita Costanzi
“It is the greatest joy and privilege to be part of the Toronto International Harp Festival 2026. Artistic Director Andrew Chan and his team of renowned harpists hold a unique vision in creating a yearly gathering of harpists and harp lovers not only in North America, but in Canada, a country often overlooked and undervalued in the international world of music.
As a solo classical harpist, actor, teacher, and writer, I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to showcase my groundbreaking and history-making one woman theater piece “Woman On A Ledge” in this Toronto premiere! Expressing my life story through Canadian playwright Hershey Felder’s moving script in a full-length dramatic play with accompanying solo classical harp (as the Ancient Bards) brings an exploration of the vulnerabilities experienced by a female musician torn between the needs of her family and her art.
The importance of such a festival that combines education (the Summer Institute) with performances—all by distinguished pedagogues and artists—carries a priceless value and meaning.
Having lived and worked in Canada for 29 years and being a dual citizen of both Canada and The United States, I look forward to sharing my unique performance art with harpists from around the world!
Frances Duffy
“The Toronto International Harp festival is a unique opportunity for harpists, students, and music lovers of all ages. Legendary performers and teachers Jana Boušková, Kathleen Bride, Sarah Bullen, and Catherine Michel lead a roster of harpists from around the world in concerts and masterclasses. For students, the chance to hear and learn from such living legends of the harp world is something they will remember and cherish their whole lives. For those participating in the 50-harp ensemble concert, it is a chance to play alongside these incredible musicians.
Our successes at last year’s festival gave us a great foundation on which to build. By adding renowned harpists Sarah Bullen and Jana Boušková to the roster of performers and masterclass teachers, we are expanding our capacity to inspire the younger generation of harpists and to give audiences beautiful and moving concerts.
I am so excited to perform music that is not heard often enough, such as that by John Thomas and TC Kelly, and to work alongside my mentors and heroes of the harp. It is a dream come true to share the harp with new audiences and to pass along this music to the next generation of harp students.
Shamim Minoo
“What makes the Toronto International Harp Festival unique is the strong sense of community it creates. It brings together harpists from different backgrounds and generations in a supportive and inspiring environment, allowing for meaningful exchange and connection.
This year, I’m especially excited to perform in the “Harp Concerto Night” concert with the National Broadcasting Orchestra, playing the Wagenseil Harp Concerto. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share the stage with other great harpists and to be part of a program dedicated to the concerto repertoire. I’m really looking forward to meeting and getting to know other harpists at the festival, exchanging ideas, and learning from one another. It’s a meaningful experience both musically and personally, and I’m very happy to be part of it.
Huw Boucher
“I feel really excited and honored to be part of the Toronto International Harp Festival 2026. It’s such a unique event because it brings together harpists from all over the world, not just for concerts but also masterclasses and just sharing ideas, so it feels like this big, inspiring community rather than just a festival. Being part of the “50 Harps. One Sound.” concert is going to be amazing, it’s not something you get to do often and I love the idea of being part of that huge collective sound. I’m also really looking forward to the “Harpist to Her Majesty” concert, especially playing a piece by John Thomas. It feels really special to connect that to my Welsh heritage and bring that into my playing. I’m also excited to see friends again and meet new people along the way. It just feels like one of those experiences where everything comes together, and I’m really looking forward to making the most of it.
Find out more about the Toronto International Harp Festival on their website.
