Suoni d’Arpa has announced the winners of its 13th International Harp Contest in Italy, held Aug. 27–Sept. 1 in Saluzzo, Italy. Harpists from 25 different countries participated in this year’s contest. Letizia Lazzerini won first prize in the top division. Her prize includes a complete set of “Gut Gold” pedal harp strings, a €1000 scholarship from the Italian Harp Association, vouchers for the music publishers Ut Orpheus and Stella Mattutina, the opportunity to record a CD produced by Tactus, a concert and master class with Harpissima 2025, and concerts with the Concert Associazione Conoscere la Musica in Bologna and with Ente Concerti Città di Iglesias in Sardinia. Momoko Komori won second prize, and Matteo Ierardi took home third prize.
Hosted by the Italian Harp Association, the competition offered a total of €25,000 in prizes in four categories, including special prizes as well as opportunities such as recording CDs and presenting concerts and masterclasses. The jury included Joel von Lerber, Lorenzo Montenz, Mattia Sismonda, Patrizia Tassini, and Oliver Wass, led by jury president Emanuela Degli Esposti.
Category A (pedal harp, up to age 15)
1st prize and Arpa Viggianese special prize: Charlotte Bommas
2nd prize: Emilia Euler
3rd prize and Mirella Vita special prize: Natalie Chee
Special Mention: Julia Dermendjieva
Category B (pedal harp, up to age 20)
1st prize: Amerie Schlosser
2nd prize: Aurora Bottacin
3rd prize: Gabriela Dudziak
Special Mentions to the teachers: Sarah O’Brien and Tiziana Tornari
Category C (pedal harp, no age limit)
1st prize: Letizia Lazzerini
2nd prize: Momoko Komori
3rd prize: Matteo Ierardi
Emilia Fadini special prize: Emma Longo Valente
Category D (duo with harp and any instrument, no age limit)
1st prize: Gabriela Dudziak (harp) and Mateusz Wojcik (guitar)
2nd prize: Hanna Maria Węgrzynowska (harp) and Michal Szymańsky (flute)
3rd prize: Feliz Hahn (harp) and Megan Henry (soprano)
Visit the Suoni d’Arpa website for more information.
