BLOOMINGTON – Every three years, more than 40 outstanding young harpists from around the world descend on Bloomington to compete in the USA International Harp Competition, and the 12th Competition will take place from June 29 through July 9, 2022.
Founded in 1989 by Susann McDonald, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Harp at the Jacobs School of Music, the USA International Harp Competition is recognized as one of the most prestigious, and lucrative, solo harp competitions in the world.
The competition takes place over 10 days, and this year 45 contestants from 20 countries will compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals and cash prizes before a jury of distinguished international judges.
They will perform solo repertoire in three stages, plus a final concerto stage with the IU Jacobs School of Music Summer Philharmonic Orchestra. The Gold Medalist receives a Gold Style 23 harp, donated by Lyon & Healy Harps of Chicago and valued at $55,000, a cash prize, and concert engagements. The second through eighth prize winners also receives cash prizes.
In the last week of June, harpists from all across the US, and the world, will be arriving in Bloomington. Most of them have been practicing and preparing for the competition for nearly two years. And harps will be coming too – truckloads of them.
Lyon & Healy Harps will ship ten new magnificent harps from Chicago, and the Jacobs School of Music allows musicians to use twelve of their harps, plus 22 practice rooms.
Some contestants drive here with their own harps, and some harps are even flown in by cargo planes from overseas. As officials like to say, “there are more harps in Bloomington than there are in many small countries!”
For many of the contestants, this will be their first visit to the US, and you can imagine the anxiety level – they are traveling to a new country and competing in a competition at the highest level. This is where a popular Host Family Program comes in – many local residents have become Host Families, and host one or more of our contestants over the two-week period. Many of the host families are “repeat” host families and have found that they have formed life-long friendships with “their” contestant – this is “Hoosier hospitality” at its finest.
The 10-day competition includes more than 70 performances by 55 harpists and guest artists, and nearly all of the events are free – two concerts will be ticketed events. All events take place at the Jacobs School of Music, except for one concert which will be at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
Laureate Recital – Sunday, July 3, at 2 p.m. in Auer Hall, IU Jacobs School of Music.
The 2019 11th USA International Harp Competition Gold medalist Mélanie Laurent will join Luke Hsu (violin), 2018 Bronze medal winner of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, in a program featuring the unique pairing of violin and harp. They will perform music by Cras, Grandjany, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Ysaye, Brahms and Piazzola. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students at the MAC Box office and Ticketmaster.
Composition Forum – Wednesday, July 6, 3 p.m. in Ford Hall, IU Jacobs School of Music.
The USA International Harp Competition also holds a triennial composition contest for a solo work for harp. The 2021 7th Ruth Inglefield Composition Contest received 107 entries from 31 countries, and we are pleased to announce that the winner is Ari Schwartz, currently an undergraduate student at Indiana University. His winning composition will be performed in Stage III by all semi-finalists and his composition has been published by Lyon & Healy Publications. Ari will talk about his composition, and five works selected as finalists in the contest will be performed during the forum. The Composition Forum is free and open to the public.
Stars of Tomorrow – Wednesday, July 6, 7 p.m. in Auer Hall, IU Jacobs School of Music.
The popular Stars of Tomorrow program features young national and international prize winners under the age of 18 – so not eligible yet to enter the main competition, but all supremely talented. This year five outstanding young harpists from across the globe have been selected to perform and represent the United States, Canada, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong. The concert is free and open to the public.
Guest Recital – Park Stickney, jazz harp, with guest artist Jeremy Allen, bass – Friday, July 8, 7:30 p.m. in Buskirk Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington.
Legendary jazz harpist, Park Stickney, presents a program on the electric harp that takes the harp to a whole new realm. Park’s programs evolve “in the moment” on stage and range from classical standards to amazing improvisations. His energy, vitality, and humor on stage make him one of the most sought-after jazz harpists of his time.
Guest artist and Bloomington favorite Jeremy Allen, jazz bassist, will join Park in several numbers. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students at the BCT Box Office at 812-323-3020 or bctboxoffice.org
Final Stage and Awards Ceremony – Saturday, July 9 at 7 p.m. in the Musical Arts Theater (MAC)
By the Final Stage, the original field of 45 contestants is down to three finalists, and in the Final Stage, each will perform Gabriel Pierne’s Concertstuck, Op. 39 for Harp and Orchestra with the IU Jacobs School of Music Summer Philharmonic, under conductor Brian Eades. The finalists will also play a free choice piece after the concerto, each showcasing their own unique talent. Then the jury has the difficult task of deciding the winners – the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists plus 4th through 8th prize winners. After the intermission, the jury returns to the stage to announce the winners – but during the intermission, there will be plenty of activity in the lobby of the MAC to keep the audience interested. Harpists will be stationed in the lobby to talk about and demonstrate the harp, the prize Gold Harp will be on display, and the 8 finalists will be available to meet and talk to audience members. A memorable evening for all, and the start of a brilliant career for many of the contestants. The concert is free and open to the public.
12th USA International Harp Competition Schedule
All events take at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music unless otherwise noted
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
5 p.m. – Opening Ceremony |Auer Hall
Thursday, June 30, 2022
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Stage I |Recital Hall
2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Stage I |Recital Hall
Friday, July 1, 2022
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Stage I |Recital Hall
2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Stage I |Recital Hall
Saturday, July 2, 2022
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Stage I |Recital Hall
2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Stage I |Recital Hall
Sunday, July 3, 2022
*2 p.m. Laureate recital, 2019 11th Competition Gold Medalist: Mélanie Laurent with Luke Hsu, violin |Auer Hall
Monday, July 4, 2022
1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Stage II |Auer Hall
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Stage II |Auer Hall
1:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Stage II |Auer Hall
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
9 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Stage II |Auer Hall
3 p.m. Composition Forum | Ford Hall
7 p.m. Stars of Tomorrow| Auer Hall
Thursday, July 7, 2022
9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Stage III |Auer Hall
2 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Stage III |Auer Hall
Friday, July 8, 2022
*7:30 p.m. Park Stickney, jazz harp, with guest artist Jeremy Allen, bass|
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Saturday, July 9, 2022
7 p.m. Stage IV and Award Ceremony |Musical Arts Center
*Ticketed events – tickets available for purchase at www.usaihc.org.
