Held in TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, the Netherlands, the 2026 World Harp Competition is underway! This year, 13 semi-finalists will take part, performing over two days, before the finalists compete on Saturday, 18th April. I discovered this bi-annual competition in 2022, and since tuning in, I’ve found new artists and talent to follow. If you love the harp, I think you’ll find plenty to enjoy.
The World Harp Competition is intriguing because artists often bring a totally different flavour or genre to the contest. Some are traditional, others bow harp strings, some use the frame for percussion like folk spoons, and others bring cultural flair. You’ll never know quite what you’ll get. The winner gets €5.000 and a place on the personally tailored CCC (Care, Coaching & Career) Development Program.
Semi Final 1 Livestream (16th April)
- Francesca Campo, Italy | Eco dal Popolo
- Esther Sévérac, France/Germany | Work Witch!
- Veronika Lemishenko, Ukraine | Words, Sounds, Thoughts
- Tara Viscardi, Ireland | Women of the Sea – Mná na Mara
- Anna Dunlap, USA | Out of Darkness, Into Light
- MarÃa Cristina de la Rosa Peralta, México | The Jarocho Harp of Veracruz
- Lise Vandersmissen, Belgium | Triple Harp Time
Semi Final 2 Livestream (17th April)
- Gabriella Jones, Wales | [UN]Love
- Motoshi Kosako, Japan | Harp Explorer ~ The art of solo harp
- Léna Jallon, France/Switzerland | Deep Inside
- Sujata Chapelain, France | Listening to remember
- Renée Qin, Canada | Beneath the Waves, Beyond the Stars
- Anna Amigó, Spain | Sang de Dona (from Catalan Women’s Blood)
Final Competition Livestream (18th April)
For more information, including how to apply to be a future contestant, visit the World Harp Competition website.
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