In less than four months, all eyes in the harp world will turn to Israel as musicians representing 24 countries compete in the 21st International Harp Contest in Israel. The triennial competition announced the order of appearance of its 61 contestants in the prestigious event to be held Sept. 1–Oct. 14. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the first two stages will be held remotely and live-streamed on the internet Sept. 1–20. The semi-final and final stages will be held in-person Oct. 10–14 in Old Acre (Akko), Israel. Because of the extenuating circumstances, the contest accepted more than the previously stated 36 contestants to compete in the first round. Germany boasts the most representatives with nine, followed by Russia with eight, and seven from the USA. The order of performers is:
- Kaytie Kerr, USA
- Anđela Stanković, Serbia
- Chiara Sax, Austria
- Maria Bubnova, Russia
- Luna Vissers, Belgium
- Chu-Heng Liao, Taiwan
- Madeleine Fougeras, France
- Rosanna Moore, United Kingdom
- Anna-Lena Killinger, Austria
- Emily Melendes, USA
- Morgan Short, USA
- HanjiaoZou, China
- Hiu Man Lilian Kong, Hong Kong
- Wan Zhongming, Canada
- Joana Daunyte-Savickiene, Lithuania
- Cansu Sezal, Turkey
- Daria Rumiantseva, Russia
- Sakuya Ota, Japan
- Dariia Ahapova, Ukraine
- Emily Hoile, United Kingdom
- Olivia Debrabandere, Belgium
- Serafina Jaffé, Germany
- Kseniia Kochergina, Russia
- Valerio Lisci, Italy
- Floriandre Dezaire, France
- Juliette Duguay (Patenaude), Canada
- Gunes Hizlilar, Turkey
- Liubov Yuryeva, Russia
- Xinyue Zhang, China
- Roxana Hädler, Czech Republic
- Liliana Safikhanova, Russia
- Nora von Marschall, Germany
- Jianan Wang, China
- Verena Meurers-Zeiser, Germany
- Ekaterina Dvoretskaya, Russia
- Katarina Stanković, Serbia
- Joost Willemze, The Netherlands
- Klara Woskowiak, Poland
- Varvara Bovina, Russia
- Veronika Lemishenko, Ukraine
- Nina Kupriyanova, Russia
- Olivia Kim, USA/Korea
- Solenn Grand, France
- Yun ChaiLee, Singapore
- Luisa Gabrisch, Germany
- Milo Harper, United Kingdom
- Marika CeciliaRiedl, Germany
- Zarja Javh Dobernik, Slovenia
- Abigail Kent, USA
- BaileyJorgensen, USA
- Beatriz Cortesão, Portugal
- Catharina Mothes, Germany
- Juri Saito, Japan
- Jeremy Keppelmann, USA
- Teresa Emilia Raff, Germany
- Naho Higuchi, Japan
- Maёlle Martin, France
- Lea Maria Löffler, Germany
- Mirian Ruf, Germany
- Claudia Lucia Lamanna, Italy
- Shiho Minami, Japan
Contestants will compete over four stages, performing required repertoire and free choice selections. The event hosted its 20th contest in October 2018, with Lenka Petrovic (Serbia) winning first prize, Joel von Lerber (Switzerland) taking home second, and native Israeli Marina Fradin receiving third prize. Founded by Aharon Zvi Propes in 1959, the contest is now directed by the principal harpist with the Israel Philharmonic, Julia Rovinsky.
