The USA International Harp Competition (USAIHC) has announced the jury for the 12th USA International Harp Competition, which will take place in Bloomington, Indiana, June 29–July 9. Naoko Yoshino (Japan) will serve as jury president. Anne-Sophie Bertrand (Germany), Shannon Shuen Chieh (Taiwan), Dickie Fleisher (USA), Maria Krushevskaya (Russia), Judy Loman (Canada), and Isabelle Perrin (France) will also serve on the jury.
Naoko Yoshino (Japan), Jury President
Internationally renowned Japanese harpist Naoko Yoshino won first prize at the 9th International Harp Contest in Israel in 1985 at the age of seventeen. Ms. Yoshino has performed extensively in solo recitals, and appeared with major orchestras worldwide as concerto soloist. She has recorded on the Teldec, Philips, Sony Classical, Virgin Classics, and Aparté labels.
Anne-Sophie Bertrand (Germany)
Anne-Sophie Bertrand is principal harpist with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (hr-Sinfonieorchester-Frankfurt), and guest professor and associate artist at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Shannon Shuen Chieh (Taiwan)
A leading harpist and teacher in Taiwan and Asia, Ms. Chieh has been principal harpist with the National Symphony of Taiwan and faculty of National Taiwan Normal University and Asian Youth Orchestra (HK) since 1999.
Dickie Fleisher (U.S.A.)
Dickie Fleisher has been the principal harpist with the Naples Philharmonic since 1983. Mr. Fleisher is also the director of the Naples Harp Ensemble and teaches at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Maria Krushevskaya (Russia)
Maria Krushevskaya is the principal harpist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia Orchestra, and from 2003–2019 was a soloist with the harp section of the Mariinsky Orchestra. She was the gold medalist in the 7th USA International Harp Competition in 2007, and has performed extensively in Russia, Europe, Asia, and the USA.
Judy Loman (Canada)
Known as one of today’s outstanding harpists, Judy Loman was principal harpist with the Toronto Symphony until retiring in 2002. She is currently a visiting artist at the Curtis Institute of Music, adjunct professor of harp at the University of Toronto, and instructor of harp at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Isabelle Perrin (France)
Isabelle Perrin, co-principal harpist with the Orchestre National de France for over 20 years, has led an international solo career. She is currently professor of harp and head of strings at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, and an appointed visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Isabelle is also the artistic director of the World Harp Congress.
View full biographies on the USAIHC website.
