USA INTERNATIONAL HARP COMPETITION

Founded in 1989 by renowned harpist and teacher Susann McDonald, the USA International Harp Competition is one of the largest and most prestigious music competitions in the world. Held every three years, the competition is open to harpists of all nationalities between the ages of 16 and 32 and has consistently attracted the finest young talents from throughout the world. Since the first USA International Harp Competition in 1989, over 270 harpists from 17 countries have come to Indiana to compete.


        

The Mission of the USA International Harp Competition is:

• to conduct a world-class international harp competition in the United States.
• to promote and foster the careers of gifted young harpists from throughout the world.
• to promote the harp as a concert and solo instrument and to introduce the harp repertoire to a broader public.
• to encourage composers to write new works for the harp.
• to foster friendship and understanding among harpists worldwide.

International standing:

The USA International Harp Competition became a member of the Geneva-based World Federation of International Music Competitions (FMCIM) in 1990. It is currently the only harp competition in the world to receive this recognition. Only seven music competitions in the USA have the distinction of membership in the FMCIM, and the state of Indiana is the only state to have two such members (the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis became a member in 1984).

For more information about the USA International Harp Competition, please contact (812) 856-5715 or harpcomp@indiana.edu.