Read our interviews with First Prize winner Lenka Petrovic and Third Prize winner Marina Fradin also in this issue.

Joel von Lerber is an impressive harpist. He performs with passion and confidence. Many harpists and audience members were following him through all four stages of the contest. I learned that many fans beyond Israel followed Joel’s posts on Instagram after each round. In our digital age, we can all feel up close and personal. I caught up with Joel by WhatsApp in Israel as he was on his way to enjoy the Tel Aviv beach. He flew home to Switzerland right after the finals and then a few days later returned to Israel to enjoy a well-deserved vacation after the competition.

First, a bit of background. Joel is from Switzerland and has studied the harp for most of his life with a list of great harp teachers, including Nathalie Chatelain, Simon Bilger, Sarah O’Brien, and Maria Graf. Joel is no stranger to international competitions. He has been a prize winner at the Louis Spohr Competition, the USA International Harp Competition, the Golden Harp Competition, and the Mexico International Harp Competition.

Harp Column: Congratulations! You won the second prize at the International Harp Contest in Israel in addition to two special prizes.  You were awarded the Propes Prize for the best performance of the Israeli work in Stage II and shared the award for the best performance of Smetana’s Moldau.  As a listener, it is often obvious when a performer enjoys performing a piece. You not only played the music well but seemed to really connect with the repertoire. Was it the list of required pieces that drew you to compete in the Israeli Contest?

Joel von Lerber: Thank you. It has always been a dream of mine to compete in the International Harp Contest in Israel. And, yes, I really liked the repertoire this year. I had already performed several of the required pieces, and you can find them on YouTube. I found the Haydn to be the most challenging. As a harpist, one doesn’t usually perform Haydn, so I took lessons with a pianist in Berlin to prepare. Pavlin Nechev is a remarkable musician, and he opened up a whole new world to me.

HC: All your lessons paid off!  You have a beautiful website and are active on social media. I am impressed.

JVL: Yes, I posted on Instagram after each of the four rounds. I also have a Facebook fan page. When I post during a competition, there is always the risk of not winning a prize, and people will learn that right away. I am proud to have won the second prize, and I had a lot of support from my friends and followers.

HC: How do you anticipate being awarded the second prize will help you advance your career?

JVL: I flew back to Switzerland the day after the finals for a prearranged performance with Swiss Radio. I have already received offers for solo performances with several orchestras. The reaction to winning the prize was immediate!

HC: You have competed in most of the elite international harp competitions.  What is unique to the Israeli Contest?

JVL: It was nice that the competitors all stayed at the same hotel. In the USA Competition, we were separated and stayed with host families. I enjoyed meeting the other harpists in Israel and getting to know them. Our hotel was on the beach, and we didn’t practice non-stop. We enjoyed each other’s company and became a support network. To me, this is a big part of the Contest. I have fond memories of my time spent with the other contestants. These are my peers, future colleagues, and now many are friends.

HC: What do you gain from competing? You have a list of awards for almost every year since high school.

JVL: Contests provide a deadline for learning repertoire. I always improve and learn more about performing with each contest. I wouldn’t have placed in the finals of the elite Israeli Contest without having the experience of competing for many years.

HC: You just graduated. What next? What would be your dream job?

JVL: I want to continue with exactly what I am doing now—performing as a soloist. I enjoy performing solo concerts and as a soloist with orchestras. I fell in love with Berlin when I first visited the city when I was 18. I moved to Berlin to study with Maria Graf, and I plan to stay based in this amazing city.

HC: Congratulations again. Many of us will be following your career. •