The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas, has appointed Allegra Lilly as Associate Professor of Harp, starting in the fall of 2025. “I’m deeply honored to become part of the Shepherd legacy,” Lilly says in a press release. “The faculty is made...
The USA International Harp Competition (USAIHC) has announced the jury for the 13th USAIHC, which will take place May 14–24 in Bloomington, Indiana. Harpist Patrizia Tassini (Italy) will serve as jury president. Harpists Karen Lindquist (United States), Sivan Magen...
Trio Haydée has released its debut album as an ensemble. The French group consists of Marielou Jacquard (voice), Anastasie Lefebvre de Rieux (flute), and Constance Luzzati (harp). The album, titled Ciels d’or (Golden Skies), was released on Feb. 7 on the UK label...
Turkish-born harpist Beste Toparlak has released a solo album titled Valses Poéticos, adapting the eponymous collection of short waltzes by Enrique Granados for the harp. Recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina, the album was accepted into the “Best New Global Classical...
The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra has appointed Merve Kocabeyler as its new harpist. “I am truly excited to join the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra and to be part of such a vibrant artistic community,” Kocabeyler says. “Performing opera has...
The Hampton Roads Harp Competition has announced the winners of its 2025 contest. After a preliminary online round, finalists were invited to perform live at the 9th annual Hampton Roads Harp Festival (HRHF) event, held on March 1 at the F. Ludwig Diehn School of...
Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland (an Irish national organization supporting Irish harping) is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead its strategic vision, including plans to expand programming and to establish the World Centre for Irish Harping in Dublin. As part of the...
Harpist and composer Alexander Boldachev is collaborating with the Italian fashion brand Fendi for its 100-year jubilee. The collaboration, which will include events featuring Boldachev's harp performances, was sparked by a performance at the private house of Barnaba...
The 14th edition of the Concours Français de la Harpe took place Feb. 28–March 2, 2025, in Limoges, France. The international competition included 12 repertoire divisions. This year, Nicole Pedroni of Italy won first prize in the top division, Excellence (Level 12)....
On March 1, over 20 harpists from Los Angeles performed on 1,000 harp strings at a benefit concert raising funds to help musicians and artists affected by the wildfires near Los Angeles. Held at One On One Recording Studio in North Hollywood, the sold-out show drew an...
The Fort Collins Symphony in Fort Collins, Colo., has appointed Abigail Enssle as principal harp starting in April. She says she is excited to collaborate with fellow musicians in her community, both in larger orchestral settings and small ensembles, and to join a...
The Somerset Folk Harp Festival has announced its evening concert lineup for this summer; the festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary July 17–20. Festival tickets also include lunchtime concerts, in addition to the evening concerts listed below. Tickets to each...
The Bangor (Maine) Symphony Orchestra has announced an opening for principal harp. Interested applicants must submit a one-page resume via email to auditions@bangorsymphony.org by April 15. Auditions will be held April 25. View the audition listing for application...
Rachel Ferris recently joined the faculty of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, as professor of harp, effective August 2024. “I look forward to developing the harp program and continuing to partner with the university on upcoming projects,” Ferris says. Ferris...
French harpist Anaëlle Tourret releases her second studio album, Perspectives concertantes, on Feb. 28. The recording features a concerto by Reinhold Glière, a concertino by Ernst von Dohnányi, and two dances by Claude Debussy. According to a press release, the title...
Harpist Ashley Jackson's label debut album Take Me to the Water is out on March 21 with Decca Records, US. The album will be available on all digital service providers after release. According to a press release, Take Me to the Water is a musical exploration of the...
Harpist Barbara Jeanne Belew passed away at the age of 95 on Feb. 13, 2025. She was born Nov. 1, 1929, to Horace Russell Belew and Mattilene Lloyd Belew in Plainview, Texas. Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles (Louisiana) published the following tribute: “During...
The Urban Youth Harp Ensemble of Atlanta was featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show on Feb. 19. During her “Rad Humans” segment, Clarkson recognized co-founder and executive director Roselyn Lewis, along with teaching artist Jennifer Betzer, for their achievements in...
Harpist Ashley Jackson has released the first two tracks of her label debut album with Decca US. The new singles, “Deep River I” and “Deep River II,” are available now on major streaming platforms. “I hope that this personal project [album] will bring listeners on a...
The 22nd International Harp Contest in Israel is returning to Jerusalem, where it was first established. On the competition website and social media, the competition organizers say, “This competition has a rich history; bringing it back to its roots makes this one...
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