Solo Competition

2023 Solo Competition

Registration is open January 17th – May 1st.

Novice, Intermediate I, and Intermediate II participants choose Pre-Recorded Video OR In-Person performance. In-Person performers compete for cash prizes. Pre-Recorded performers compete for separate Online 1st Place and Online 2nd Place certificates and are not eligible for cash prizes. There is no Winners’ Recital for pre-recorded competitors.

Advanced I and Advanced II participants must compete in person.

ALL competitors receive comments from 3 different judges. 

Important Dates

  • January 17th: Registration opens
  • May 1st: Registration closes
  • May 28th: Videos due by 7pm CT
  • June 12th: Stage Presence and Etiquette workshop, some divisions may compete in-person
  • June 13th: In-person competition and Winners’ Recital

Competition

Tuesday afternoon, June 13th, 2023

If necessary, some divisions may be moved to Monday afternoon, June 12th.

Winners' Recital

7:30 pm CT June 13th, 2023

First and Second Place recipients perform at the Winners’ Recital.

First and Second Place winners in each division must be available to perform in the Winners’ Recital to receive their award. Honorable Mention winners will receive their certificates on stage during the Winners’ Recital.

2023 Repertoire

Novice

  • For Festival Registrants - this division is for those playing lever or pedal harp in the Largo Ensemble, Entry Fee: $25
  • For Non-Festival Registrants - this division is for beginner pedal or lever harpists, Entry Fee: $50
  • 1st Place Prize - $100
  • 2nd Place Prize - $50
  • Required Piece - The See-Saw – Marcel Grandjany (from Little Harp Book)

Intermediate I

  • For Festival Registrants - this division is for those playing lever or pedal harp in the Largo or Allegro Ensemble, Entry Fee: $30
  • For Non-Festival Registrants - this division is for beginner/early intermediate lever or pedal harpists, Entry Fee: $60
  • 1st Place Prize - $150
  • 2nd Place Prize - $75
  • Required Piece - Pistache – Bernard Andrès (from Epices Book 1)

Intermediate II

  • For Festival Registrants - this division is for those playing pedal harp in the Allegro or Vivace Ensemble, Entry Fee: $35
  • For Non-Festival Registrants - this division is for intermediate pedal harpists, Entry Fee: $70
  • 1st Place Prize - $200
  • 2nd Place Prize - $100
  • Required Piece - Mirage – Carlos Salzedo (from Five Poetical Studies)

Advanced I

  • For Festival Registrants - this division is for those playing pedal harp in the Allegro or Vivace Ensemble, Entry Fee: $45
  • For Non-Festival Registrants - this division is for early advanced pedal harpists, Entry Fee: $90
  • 1st Place Prize - $300
  • 2nd Place Prize - $150
  • Required Piece - Viejo Zortzico – Jesus Guridi

Advanced II

  • For Festival Registrants - this division is for those playing pedal harp in the Vivace Ensemble, Entry Fee: $50
  • For Non-Festival Registrants - this division is for advanced pedal harpists, Entry Fee: $100
  • 1st Place Prize - $400
  • 2nd Place Prize - $200
  • Required Piece - Sonata for Harp – Pierick Houdy

Solo Competition Guidelines

  • Competition: Tuesday afternoon, June 13th, 2023. If necessary, some divisions may be moved to Monday afternoon, June 12th.
  • Winners' Recital: 7:30 pm CT June 13th, 2023
  • First and Second Place Winners in each division must be available to perform in the Winners' Recital to receive their award. Honorable Mention winners will receive their certificates on stage during the Winners' Recital.
  • Competitors may only compete in ONE division.
  • Harpists who have previously won First Place in a particular division MUST compete in a higher level.
  • Harpists found to have chosen a repertoire selection below their level of competency will be disqualified by the judges.
  • The in-person competition is judged blind.
  • Non-professional harpists of any age are allowed to compete.
    A professional musician is one who plays an instrument or several instruments proficiently; performing is their primary source of income. (taken from liveabout.com)
  • Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to register.
  • Plan to be as prepared as possible BEFORE arriving to the festival. Other than the Stage Presence & Etiquette workshop, there will not be an opportunity for you to rehearse on stage.
  • The winners are posted during any breaks and at the end of the competition.
  • The competition is open to the public. Anyone can sit in the audience to observe without disturbance.
  • Each competitor receives comment sheets after the competition.

Stage Presence & Etiquette

- Monday afternoon, June 12th
- Full-time festival registrants participating in the competition are required to attend this workshop. Those competitors not registered for the festival full-time are encouraged to attend at no additional charge.
- Solo Competition participants will have an opportunity to play parts of their competition piece in the competition venue. They will learn how to approach the harp and practice bowing and exiting the stage.

Dress

- Semi-formal to formal stage dress is appropriate.

- If you are wearing a skirt or dress, please make sure it hits below the knees. If there is a slit, it should also stop below the knees.

- We recommend practicing in your competition outfit (that includes shoes!) so you are at ease when you compete.

Music

- Music must be performed from memory.
- You must have the original printed music to hand to the judges. No other copies are necessary. If you bought the music online, please bring proof of purchase.
- Number the measures of your music at the beginning of each line. You do not need to number each actual measure.

Harps

- Shared harps will be provided for the competition.
- Be sure to specify lever, semi-grand, or concert grand harp on the registration form so we may make every effort to provide a similar harp for your use.
- Rehearsal time on the harp will be limited. Please arrive to the competition already warmed up if possible.

Scoring

- Each judge critiques 10 different qualities of the performance: dynamics, rhythm, note accuracy, etc. A maximum of 100 points is given by each of the 3 judges.
- Competition winners are determined by the total cumulative points (300 maximum) given by all 3 judges. It is possible that not all winning levels will be represented if none of the contestants achieve enough points.
Points needed to achieve placement for each level:
- First Place 270 – 300 points
- Second Place 240 – 269 points
- Third Place 210 – 239 points
- Judged by Midwest Harp Festival faculty. Substitutes may be present.
- The judges' decisions are final.

Pre-Recorded Video Guidelines

  • Novice, Intermediate I, and Intermediate II participants may choose this option. The repertoire is the same as the In-Person competition.
  • Participants compete for separate Online 1st Place and Online 2nd Place certificates and are not eligible for cash prizes. There is no Winners' Recital for pre-recorded competitors.
  • Video links are due by 7pm CT on May 28th, 2023. Upload your video to YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., and send the link to MidwestHarpFestival@gmail.com. Also include a copy of your music with the measures numbered at the beginning of each line.
  • Video should be taken from the harpist's left side. The whole harp and performer must be visible.
  • You may record as many times as you like, but the submitted video must be one single take. No editing or effects allowed.
  • Avoid bright lights behind the harpist.
  • Limit background noise as much as possible.
  • Tune the harp before you begin recording.
  • Do not talk during your video.
  • If you are using your phone/tablet to record, make sure no cases, fingers, etc. are blocking the microphone. We also recommend you put it on silent before you begin recording to avoid interruptions!
  • Results will be emailed by June 17th.
Register Now!