Musical America Worldwide has named Abigail Kent its February 2018 “New Artist of the Month.” The publication has highlighted composers, conductors, dancers, singers, and instrumentalists on its website every month since 2009, though Kent is the first harpist to be...
The USA International Harp Competition has announced its 6th Solo Harp Composition Contest. Submissions are due Oct. 15, 2018, and pieces must be unpublished, unawarded, and between 6 and 8 minutes in length. The winner will receive a prize of US $2,000, and the work...
If you have been enjoying lessons with our Harp Column Academy master teachers, you have the opportunity to study with many of them in person this summer as they teach at camps, festivals, and masterclasses all over the United States and across the world. See below...
Following a series of quarterfinal rounds taking place in Hong Kong, Utrecht, and New York in January, the Dutch Harp Festival has announced the eight semifinalists in its 2018 World Harp Competition. They will each perform an original program at the Dutch Harp...
Lyon & Healy has announced details for the 2019 Lyon & Healy Awards, scheduled to take place March 14 – 16, 2019 at its concert hall in Chicago. The competition is open to harpists under the age of 30, with applications due Jan. 15, 2019. The two pieces...
Jacqueline Pollauf was recently appointed coordinator of the harp department at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. The harp program was founded and run by Avis Heger and later coordinated by Gretchen Brumwell Johnson. Pollauf has been teaching at Blue Lake for the past four...
Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr was recently selected as an artist with City Music Foundation. The two-year program gives highly talented young professionals the tools necessary to create and sustain successful musical careers, including workshops, one-on-one business...
Remembering Jeanne Chalifoux –by Rebecca Anstine Smith My first encounter with Jeanne Chalifoux was at the Salzedo Summer Harp Colony in Camden, Maine, where she gave lessons while her aunt, the legendary Alice Chalifoux, played at the Blossom Music Festival. To this...
The American Harp Society has announced that Leslie Shortlidge has been named Executive Editor for its biannual publication, the American Harp Journal, with Emily Laurance serving as Associate Editor. Shortlidge and Laurance will replace Laura Sherman who served as...
2018 is here in full force, so we've found upcoming festivals happening around the world this winter and spring to help you stay on track and achieve your goals. Check out all the fantastic programs coming up this season, and make sure to check back for our summer and...
Marguerite Lynn Williams joined the faculty at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music in Jan. 2018. She succeeds Elizabeth Cifani, who retired at the end of 2017 after 36 years of teaching at Northwestern. Williams is also on faculty at Chicago College of...
Russian-Swiss harpist and composer Sasha Boldachev has just announced a North American tour, to perform a diverse range of repertoire that includes classical, pop, rock, and game music. The tour begins Jan. 14, 2018 in Orlando, FL, and continues through Feb, with...
Internationally acclaimed harpist Xavier de Maistre has recorded a new album of Spanish music, titled Serenata Española. Released Jan. 12, 2018, the recording features Mexican-Spanish flamenco dancer and legendary castanet player Lucera Teno, who de Maistre says...
Elizabeth Volpé Bligh has retired from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, after 35 seasons as their principal harpist, but will continue performing with the VSO through the end of their 2017/2018 season. “I’ve learned so much in my years with the Vancouver Symphony...
The International Harp Contest in Israel has announced that it is now accepting applications for the 20th contest, taking place Oct. 15–25, 2018. The four-round competition is open to harpists ages 36 or younger of all nationalities. Participation is limited to 36...
Grace Browning is the new principal harpist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), following the retirement of residing RPO harpist, Grace Wong. Browning won the audition after a two-day audition that took place in October 2017. Currently located in Dallas,...
Paul David Wren (1964-2017) was a beloved member of the Mile Hi Chapter of the American Harp Society in Colorado. He served as principal harpist of the Aurora Symphony for 14 years, played for various local groups including the Colorado Wind Ensemble, the Evergreen...
As 2017 comes to a close, we're looking back at another fascinating year of harp news we reported on here at Harp Column. The past 12 months have been rich with amazing opportunities for harpists and celebrations of their success. We gathered for festivals large and...
Pasadena-based harp retailer Pacific Harps launched a fundraiser for their Harp in the Schools program, which works to provide harp lessons and rental harps to California schools. Following recent government budget cuts to public school music programs in the state of...
Indian American singer and harpist Sheela Bringi was recently profiled by NBC News. Passionate about infusing the music of her heritage with the American genres she heard growing up, her goal is to “bridge worlds” with her work. Bringi tells Monica Luhar of NBC News,...
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