The Italian Harp Association has announced the winners of its 15th International Harp Contest in Italy Suoni d’Arpa, held Aug. 25–30 at the Fondazione Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale in Saluzzo, Italy. Eve Lung of China won first prize in the top division, Category C. Jamaal Kashim (United Kingdom) won second prize and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Saluzzo special prize for the best performance of the Italian piece. Jules Scouberyou (France) took home third prize and the Emilia Fadini special prize for the best performance of a Domenico Scarlatti sonata.
The 2026 competition included 59 participants from 26 different countries. Due to the contest’s recent growth, it will now be held every two years instead of every three years. The next edition of the International Harp Contest in Italy Suoni d’Arpa will take place in late August 2028 in Saluzzo.
Category C (no age limit)
1st prize: Eve Lung (China)
2nd prize and Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Saluzzo special prize: Jamaal Kashim (United Kingdom)
3rd prize and Emilia Fadini special prize: Jules Scouberyou (France)
Fondazione Gualtiero Marchesi special prizes: Yuet Kan (China) and Jana Bürger (Switzerland)
Category B (up to 20 years old)
1st prize, Viggiano Città dell’Arpa prize, and Mirella Vita prize: Anna Petrovitsch (Germany)
2nd prize: Liu Xiyuge (China)
3rd prize: Letizia Pellanda (Italy)
Special mention: Rio Goto (Japan)
Category A (up to 15 years old)
1st prize: Eksena Kostova (Bulgaria)
2nd prize: Liu Xiyuge (China)
3rd prize: Liu Si Zuo (Taiwan)
Special prizes (up to 12 years old)
Dan Kim (South Korea)
Amber O’Neill (Scotland)
Qiuyang Yue (China)
Sophia Celeste Pansini (Italy)
Maria Victoria Ler (Italy)
Video recordings of the 2026 live competition will soon be available on the association’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit the Italian Harp Association’s website.
