The sixth edition of the Mexico International Harp Competition took place Nov. 11–19 in Mexico City. Li Shan Tan of Singapore won first prize of the Young Professional Division (for contestants 36 and under). In addition to a monetary award of $1,500, Tan’s prize includes a concerto performance with the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico immediately following the competition, as well as a solo recital at the next edition of the Mexico International Harp Festival. Diego Souza Gomes (Brazil) took home second prize and $1,100, and Theresa Labuda (U.S.) was awarded third prize with $900. All three prize winners, as well as the top prize winners of the Advanced Division, will perform at shared virtual recitals at the Tierra 47 Festival and the Harp Week in Buenos Aires.
Other prizewinners are:
Advanced Division (25 and under)—first prize: Alondra Máynez (Mexico); second prize: Jaqueline Aguirre (Mexico).
Intermediate Division (20 and under)—first prize: Ellen Široka (Croatia); second prize: Keila Lara Soto (Mexico); and third prize: Celeste Ramírez (Mexico).
Junior Division (15 and under)—first prize: Fátima Velazquez Mosqueda (Mexico); second prize: Fátima Vera Velasco (Mexico); and third prize: Zulaikha Kadieva (Russia).
Jury members for this year’s competition included jury president Elzbieta Szmyt, along with Christine Icart, Oscar Rodríguez Do Campo, Tajana Vukelić Peić, Enrique Guzmán, and Eugenia Espinales.
Check out harp arranging tips from Young Professional Division first prize winner Li Shan Tan in her article from the May/June 2022 issue of Harp Column, Feel Free to Write. Learn more about Advanced Division second prize winner Jaqueline Aguirre’s practice journey in our Practice Makes Harpist series from our November/December 2021 and November/December 2022 issues.
Read our cover interview with competition founder Baltazar Juárez in our November/December 2017 issue, in which he shares his personal motivation for starting the competition and festival in 2006. For more information, visit the competition and festival website.
