The 1st International Harp and Harp Composition Competition “Ángel Padilla Crespo” has announced the winners of its inaugural contest. Hosted by the “Opera Zero” Cultural Association of Bari (Italy), the online competition is open to musicians of all nationalities. Competitors submit an application with a link to an unlisted YouTube video, which serves as the competition performance. In most categories, contestants performed a free-choice program within a given time limit. Results are listed below.
Category A (pedal harp, no age limit)
1st prize: Maria Cristina Chiarelli (Italy)
2nd prize: Jaqueline Aguirre García (Mexico)
Category B (pedal harp, up to age 21)
1st prize: not awarded
2nd prize: Celeste Alejandra Ramírez Pacheco (Mexico)
Category C (pedal harp, up to age 16)
1st prize: Natalie Chee (Canada)
2nd prize: Wanda Pariy (Russia)
3rd prize: Nishdao Juárez Zavala (Mexico)
Category D (chamber music with harp, no age limit)
1st prize overall: Subin Lee (harp), Julian Seney (viola), and Sophia Jean (flute) (South Korea)
1st prize: Rosaria Belmonte (harp) and Petr Kasianov (violin) (Italy)
Category E (harp duos, trios, and quartets, no age limit)
1st prize (tie): Vanessa Wagner and Verena Wagner (Switzerland) and Saida Shaikenova, Darina Omiralieva, and Zhansel Zhandauletova (Kazakhstan)
Category F (lever harp, no age limit)
1st prize: Justyna Adamczak (Poland) and Caroline Lynn Wu (Hong Kong)
2nd prize: Hey Ching Cheung (Hong Kong)
Category G (compositions for harp, harp ensemble, or harp and piano)
1st prize: Santo Luca Sposato (Italy), Yiota Myserli (Greece), and Gennaro Salatino (Italy)
2nd prize: Fabio Carta (Italy), Veronica Bria (Italy), and Leonardo Vulcano (Italy)
3rd prize: Carlo Ibba (Italy) and Stefano Ottomano (Italy)
