Last modified: Monday, June 11, 2007
Seventh International Harp Competition begins at IUB on July 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Virtuosic harp music once again will ring through recital halls on the Indiana University Bloomington campus, as the Seventh USA International Harp Competition takes place from July 4-14.
Founded in 1989 by renowned harpist and IU Jacobs School of Music Distinguished Professor of Music Susann McDonald, the USA International Harp Competition is one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind 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 some of the finest young talents from throughout the world. Since the first USA International Harp Competition in 1989, more than 270 harpists from 17 countries have come to Indiana to compete.
"It is going to be a special competition this year, in part because of the large number of former national and international prizewinners who are competing in Bloomington, but also because this competition will be made into a documentary by PBS, and thus will bring the art of solo harp playing to millions of people who would never hear of it otherwise," said McDonald, who is chairman of the Jacobs School of Music Harp Department -- the largest in the world -- as well as founder and artistic director of the USA International Harp Competition.
As with each competition, the goal of the organization is to conduct a world-class event that recognizes outstanding talent and promotes the careers of young artists. Collaboration with the Jacobs School of Music and its renowned harp department helps to attain these aspirations at the highest possible level, according to Aaron Kercheval, executive director of USA International Harp Competition.
"The USA International Harp Competition enjoys a special relationship with the Jacobs School of Music," said Kercheval. "The competition benefits from the use of facilities and resources, including concert halls and the IU Summer Festival Orchestra. By hosting the competition, the Jacobs School gains additional worldwide attention and attracts new audiences to Bloomington."
And those audiences should be very pleased.
All competition stages and competition events are free and open to the public.
For more information on competition and a schedule of events, visit the USA International Harp Competition Web site at https://www.indiana.edu/~harpcomp.
