The second round of the 72nd ARD International Music Competition took place Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The six harpists advancing to the semifinals are:
Alexandra Bidi, France
Marcel Cara, France
Noelia Cotuna Rizea, Spain
Tjasha Gafner, Switzerland
Johanna Dorothea Görißen, Germany
Lea Maria Löffler, Germany
The six semifinalists will perform with the Münchener Kammerorchester on Sept. 3. Finalists will compete on Sept. 6 accompanied by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. The first round of the competition took place Aug. 28–30.
First established in 1952, the ARD International Music Competition takes place annually in Munich. It is named for the association of German public radio broadcasters which hosts the competition. Each year’s competition features a different set of instrument and ensemble categories, which means harpists only have the chance to compete every few years. Previous harp winners include Agnès Clément (2016), Emmanuel Ceysson (2009), Anton Sie (2004), and Isabelle Moretti (1983).
For more information, visit the competition website.
