New York-based harpist Margot Sergent and her trio, So French Cabaret, performed for the third time at Birdland Jazz Club this summer. Sergent’s show, featuring harp and vocals, blends Edith Piaf classics with trad jazz. We caught up with Sergent to find out more...
Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, has appointed Kela Walton to its harp faculty. We asked Walton, a frequent contributor to Harp Column, to share her thoughts on the position. What specialized skills or interests do you bring to the position at...
The Sarasota Orchestra appointed Hannah Cope Johnson as principal harpist, following three rounds of auditions May 15–16. Cope Johnson begins her first season with the orchestra in September. Cope Johnson says preparing 14 excerpts and three solos and auditioning over...
The Louisville Orchestra and Music Director Teddy Abrams announce the permanent position of principal harp. Qualified applicants must either email or mail a typed one-page résumé to be received by Sept. 2. Auditions will take place Oct. 16–17. The salary for Principal...
With her debut album Ethereal, harpist Madison Calley brings together R&B and the classical pedal harp. We asked Calley to reflect on what she has learned since releasing the album via Platoon in December 2021. As you reflect on life after the album, what are some...
The Salvi Electra, now available from Salvi Harps, comes with 48 pickups: one for each string, plus one for the soundboard. The soundboard pickup is designed to capture not only the harp’s overall vibration, but also any percussion effects using the harp’s wood. A...
The Vancouver (Washington) Symphony Orchestra has announced an opening for principal harp. To apply and receive the repertoire list, interested harpists must email a one-page resume to orchestramgr@vancouversymphony.org by Sept. 8. Auditions will take place in...
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, French harp maker Camac Harps reveals a new harp model, the Jubilé. The harp features an asymmetrical and multifaceted column and base, with geometric soundboard decoration. Camac’s president, Jakez François, sketched the new...
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has announced an opening for principal harp. Applicants must email a one-page resume to auditions@tucsonsymphony.org by Sept. 13—see the audition listing for formatting requirements. Auditions will be held Sept. 27–28 for this permanent,...
Ellis Schuman, composer, pianist, harpist, and teacher, passed away on June 22, 2022, in San Francisco. Born May 25, 1931, in Chicago, he received his early education in his hometown. He continued his studies earning degrees in music from Roosevelt University and Ohio...
Hawaiian-born harpist Lara Somogyi releases her debut solo album Sept. 23 on the London-based record label Mercury KX. Recorded in Somogyi’s home studio in Los Angeles, her new album is entitled ! —a nod to her search for greater expressive range on the harp through...
Harpist and composer Alina Bzhezhinska is set to release her second album, Reflections, Sept. 23 on BBE Music in vinyl, CD, and digital formats. The album is available for pre-order on Bandcamp. Born in Ukraine, Bzhezhinska is now based in London, where she founded...
The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) has announced an opening for principal harp. The application deadline is Sept. 9. Auditions will take place Sept. 18. For more information, visit the BRSO website or contact the director of artistic operations at...
Technological University (TU) Dublin Conservatoire is seeking to recruit a Permanent Wholetime Assistant Lecturer in Harp Performance. The Conservatoire is now located at a new center for the performing and creative arts in the TU Dublin City Campus at Grangegorman....
The Young Artist’s Harp Competition (YAHC) has announced the winners of this year's competition, held June 21–25 in Chestertown, Maryland. The competition takes place every two years in conjunction with the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar summer training programs....
Updated Oct. 12, 2026 The 22nd International Harp Contest in Israel has restructured its required repertoire and competition process into three stages, with the first stage taking place by video recording and the semifinal and final stages to be held January 15–22,...
The Concours Français de la Harpe will hold its 12th edition Feb. 10–12, 2023, in Limoges, France. The competition’s 12 repertoire divisions are open to harpists of all nationalities, with no age limit. Harpists can apply to multiple divisions. Prize sponsors include...
The Stockton (Calif.) Symphony has announced an opening for principal harp. Auditions for the tenure-track position will be held Aug. 21 in Stockton, California. Applications are due Aug. 12. Led by Music Director Peter Jaffe since 1995, the orchestra presents...
Austrian harpist Elisabeth Plank is one of 25 artists chosen as a representative of The New Austrian Sound of Music (NASOM) for its eighth edition in 2023–2024. A panel of experts worked together with mica – music austria, Austrian Music Export, and Austrian music...
The American Harp Society (AHS) Foundation awarded the 2022 Kids for Camp Scholarship to Joselyn Sky Goldman. The thirteen-year-old is from Atascadero, California, and is a student of Penny Howk Beavers. With her $500 award, Goldman will attend the Central Coast Harp...
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