The 13th USA International Harp Competition (USAIHC) took place May 14–24, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana, at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Watch for our interview with the gold medal winner in an upcoming issue of Harp Column.
May 24, 2025
Final Results and Awards
Shamim Minoo of Iran is the gold medal winner of the 13th USAIHC, following the final stage, which took place May 24. Her award includes a Lyon & Healy or Salvi premium harp, a solo debut recital sponsored by the Salvi Foundation, a laureate recital at the 22nd International Harp Contest in Israel (the International Laureate Exchange Prize between the two competitions), a winner’s recital in Greater China arranged by Hong Kong Harp Chamber Music, and a $6,000 cash award, the Susann McDonald Prize. In addition to the first prize, Minoo also won the Emmanuel Ceysson Prize for the best performance of Pièce symphonique by Henriette Renié during Stage III.
Zhong Ming Wan of Canada won the silver medal and the Hong Kong Harp Chamber Music Prize in the amount of $5,500. Zhong Ming also won the Fleisher Family Prize for the best performance of Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, by Johann Sebastian Bach during Stage II.
Huw Boucher of Wales took home the bronze medal and the Korea International Harp Competition Prize, a $5,000 award. Boucher also won the Concerto Prize for the best performance of Concertino for Harp and Chamber Orchestra by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco in the final stage.
The results of the 13th USAIHC are:
Gold Medal, 1st Prize (Susann McDonald Prize): Shamim Minoo (Iran)
Silver Medal, 2nd Prize (Hong Kong Harp Chamber Music Prize): Zhong Ming Wan (Canada)
Bronze Medal, 3rd Prize (Korea International Harp Competition Prize): Huw Boucher (Wales)
4th Prize (Hong Kong Harp Centre Prize): Woojin Lee (South Korea)
5th Prize (Dr. Konrad William Rinne and Dr. Erzsébet Gaál Rinne Prize): Renée Murphy (USA)
6th Prize (Gorman Jones Prize): Joost Willemze (Netherlands)
7th Prize (Mary Stuart and Judy Sights Honor Prize, given by Luke & Emily Fife): Ekaterina Dvoretskaia (Russia)
8th Prize (Eleanor Fell Memorial Prize): Nanako Hirai (Japan)
Concerto Prize for the best performance of Concertino for Harp and Chamber Orchestra by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (in honor of Susann McDonald from the Weiger Lepke-Sims Family): Huw Boucher (Wales)
Mario Falcao Prize for the best performance of the 8th USAIHC Ruth Inglefield Compositition Contest winning work (Bioluminescence by Kalen Smith): Renée Murphy (USA)
Emmanuel Ceysson Prize for the best performance of Pièce symphonique by Henriette Renié: Shamim Minoo (Iran)
Fleisher Family Prize for the best performance of Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 by Johann Sebastian Bach: Zhong Ming Wan (Canada)
May 22, 2025
Stage IV Competitors
Following Stage III, which took place May 22, the three finalists advancing to Stage IV are:
9. Zhong Ming Wan (Canada)
22. Shamim Minoo (Iran)
39. Huw Boucher (Wales)
The final stage performances and the award ceremony will take place Saturday, May 24, in Auer Hall at the Jacobs School of Music and will also be livestreamed.
May 20, 2025
Stage III Competitors
Following Stage II, which took place May 19–20, the eight semifinalists advancing to Stage III are:
9. Zhong Ming Wan (Canada)
15. Joost Willemze (Netherlands)
22. Shamim Minoo (Iran)
24. Ekaterina Dvoretskaia (Russia)
27. Woojin Lee (South Korea)
30. Nanako Hirai (Japan)
39. Huw Boucher (Wales)
41. Renée Murphy (USA)
The Stars of Tomorrow and Composition Forum concerts will take place Wednesday, May 21, and will both be livestreamed. Competition will resume on Thursday, May 22, with Stage III, which will also be livestreamed.
May 18, 2025
Stage II Competitors
Following Stage I, which took place May 14–17, the 22 competitors advancing to Stage II are:
4. Krissy Teng (Australia)
8. Abigail Kent (USA)
9. Zhong Ming Wan (Canada)
12. Kikuko Dachy (France/Japan)
13. Momoko Komori (USA/Japan)
15. Joost Willemze (Netherlands)
17. Letizia Lazzerini (Italy)
22. Shamim Minoo (Iran)
24. Ekaterina Dvoretskaia (Russia)
25. Isabelle Low Jia En (Malaysia)
27. Woojin Lee (South Korea)
30. Nanako Hirai (Japan)
31. Hyejin Kim (South Korea)
33. Eugenia Alfier (Italy)
34. Sophie Xinwei Shen (Germany)
36. Luna Vissers (Belgium)
37. Annette Lee (USA)
38. Michelle Sweegers (Netherlands)
39. Huw Boucher (Wales)
40. Julia Grünbaum (Germany)
41. Renée Murphy (USA)
44. Joséphine Plagnol (France)
May 14, 2025
This year, 44 international competitors from 19 countries have arrived in Bloomington, Indiana, for the 13th USA International Harp Competition, which is open to harpists of all nationalities between the ages of 18 and 32. Visit the USAIHC website to view the full schedule, including four stages of competition, guest concerts from International Harp Contest in Israel winner Claudia Lucia Lamanna, USAIHC winner Noël Wan, and the Brandee Younger Trio, as well as the Stars of Tomorrow concert and Composition Forum.
Harp Column will post updates here throughout the competition.
Stage I Competitors
These contestants will perform Thursday through Saturday, May 15–17, in Ford-Crawford Hall at Jacobs School of Music.
Eugenia Alfier, Italy
Amanda Beranek, USA
Huw Boucher, Wales, UK
Agnese Contadini, Italy
Teodora Cotuna Rizea, Spain
Kikuko Dachy, France/Japan
Noelia de Freitas, France
Julia Dietrich, Germany
Ekaterina Dvoretskaia, Russia
Pauline Elkaim, France
Sebastian Gobbels, Canada
Julia Grünbaum, Germany
Qi Han, China
Nanako Hirai, Japan
Julia Johnson, USA
Mai Kamiyama, Japan
Abigail Kent, USA
Hyejin Kim, South Korea
Kyunghwa Kim, South Korea
Rena Kojima, Japan
Momoko Komori, USA/Japan
Mariya Kondo, Japan
Clarissa Konzett, Austria
Letizia Lazzerini, Italy
Annette Lee, USA
Subin Lee, South Korea
Woojin Lee, South Korea
Yin Wah Natalie Lo, Hong Kong
Isabelle Low Jia En, Malaysia
Ionella Marinutsa, France
Charlotte Michels, Germany
Shamim Minoo, Iran
Renée Murphy, USA
Moe Nakata, Japan
Sakuya Ota, Japan
Joséphine Plagnol, France
Sophie Xinwei Shen, Germany
Michelle Sweegers, Netherlands
Li Shan Tan, Singapore
Nagisa Tanaka, Japan
Krissy Teng, Australia
Luna Vissers, Belgium
Zhong Ming Wan, Canada
Joost Willemze, Netherlands
