Competitions › USA International Harp Competition
USA International Harp Competition
Overview
Ten-day harp competition in Bloomington with four stages, a selection committee reviewing applications, and medals with a composition contest attached. The official rules page covers the 2028 (14th) competition, with repertoire to be posted in spring 2027.
- Organiser
- USA International Harp Competition, Inc. (Board of Directors)
- Instruments
- Harp
- Category
- Solo harp
- Age limits
- 18 to 32 as of the first day of the 2028 competition
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
howToApply: Application materials submitted for review by a selection committee; applications open summer 2027. Method not stated.
Rounds & time limits
- Stage I: at least 20 and up to 22 advance (repertoire and time missing)
- Stage II: top eight advance (repertoire and time missing)
- Stage III (semi-final): top three advance to Stage IV; 4th-8th prizes awarded; programme must not exceed 45 minutes including breaks, plus 1 minute tuning between pieces
- Stage IV (final): Gold, Silver and Bronze medals (repertoire and time missing)
Repertoire
Stage III must be performed from memory and includes the required winning composition of the Ruth Inglefield Composition Contest. Other repertoire is missing and will be posted in spring 2027.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Up to seven internationally recognised harpists, teachers and musicians; names missing.
Prizes
- Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, 4th-8th prizes, and special single-work prizes by jury ballot. First prize winner may receive a Lyon & Healy or Salvi harp (import taxes may apply). Currency amounts missing.
Past editions
- 2025 — Bloomington, Indiana, USA source
Shamim Minoo (Iran), Gold Medal (13th competition)
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source