The Basel International Online Harp Competition 2023 has announced its results. The competition was open to contestants of all nationalities and was divided into six categories by age. Mitsumi Okamoto of Japan won first prize and the semi-grand prize in category F (harpists 26 to 35 years old). The semi-grand prize includes 100,000 Japanese yen and an invitation to a solo recital or joint recital at a well-known recital hall in Japan, with accommodation, in May 2024. Katia Mestrovic (Australia) was the third prize winner. Rena Kojima of Japan won first prize in category E (harpists 22 to 25 ye ..read more

The Global Music Awards of 2023 has awarded 2tone, a duo featuring harpist Cindy Horstman and bassist Michael Medina, the Bronze Medal in the instrumental division for their composition and production of “Remembering” from their album Duets. “We are thrilled to receive this honor! This piece is dedicated to my late father, whose love and support of my musical career was never-ending,” Horstman says. The Global Music Awards is an international music competition that honors independent musicians for their creativity, musical skill, and emotional expression. For more information, visit 2tone ..read more

The Gewandhausorchester has announced an opening for one of its two full positions in harp, with auditions to be held May 21–22, 2024. The Gewandhausorchester performs at the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig, the Oper Leipzig, and the Thomaskirche. The ensemble began as a concert society founded in 1743, and adopted its current name in 1781. For more information and to apply, visit the orchestra’s website ..read more

The Queensland Symphony Orchestra has appointed Emily Granger as its new principal harpist. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Granger studied with Susann McDonald at the Jacobs School of Music and with Sarah Bullen at the Chicago College of the Performing Arts. She has performed recitals from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and has appeared with the Chicago, Sydney, Queensland, and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. Granger’s debut solo album In Transit, released in 2022, has garnered over 3.5 million streams. The American-born, Australian-based harpist recently released a new album ..read more

The Young Artist’s Harp Seminar (YAHS) has announced its 2024 guest artist, Mariko Anraku, associate principal harpist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (the Met). Applications for next summer’s YAHS and Prep programs will open on January 1, 2024, and are due by March 15, 2024. Designed for pedal harpists ages 12–26, the YAHS program is set to take place July 6–20, 2024, in Chestertown, Md. YAHS faculty members for 2024 include Susan Bennett Brady, Anastasia Pike, Mallory McHenry, and Ellie Kirk. The one-week Prep program will be held July 7–14, 2024, and is intended for pedal or lever harpi ..read more

Harpist Kirsten Agresta-Copely is nominated for a 2024 GRAMMY Award in the “Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album” category for her second New Age album, Aquamarine. According to a press release, the album is “inspired by [the artist’s] deep connection with the ocean and imbued with memories of her late mother… who ignited [Agresta-Copely’s] passion for both music and the sea.” Other nominations in the “Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album” category are So She Howls by Carla Patullo, featuring Tonality and the Scorchio Quartet; Ocean Dreaming Ocean by David Darling and Hans Christian; Moments ..read more

Harpist Elisabeth Plank and flutist Diren Duran, accompanied by the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester and conducted by Howard Griffiths, will release a new recording of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp. The Nov. 10 release is the seventh volume of the “Next Generation Mozart Soloists” series on the Alpha Classics label. The album also features soloists Aaron Pilsan (Piano Concerto no. 19), Nicolas Ramez (Horn Concerto no. 1), and Diren Duran (Andante for Flute). The album will be available to download or stream from Outhere Music ..read more

The upcoming Atlanta Harp Center Festival will take place March 15–17, 2024, in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. The festival will feature harpists Juan Riveros, Kim Robertson, Amanda Whiting, and Valérie Milot. Other guest artists will include Rhett Barnwell, Angi Bemiss, Ashley Crosland, Paula Fagerberg, Robbin Gordon-Cartier, Jacqueline Pollauf, and other performers, including ensembles. The weekend’s workshops, concerts and special events will cover classical, Latin, Celtic, jazz, sacred, and therapeutic music, and are designed for both lever and pedal harpists. Kim Robertson will wr ..read more

Elizabeth (Liz) Elyse Yockey Ilku graced the world with her talent, love, disciplined determination, inner and outer beauty, and kind fellowship from March 2, 1928, until August 21, 2023. She passed away from natural causes, peacefully at her home, with her children David and Carol at her side. Born in Webster City, Iowa, her third-grade teacher set the course for her destined life, telling her, “Elizabeth, there’s a special little harp that was donated to our school, and you’re going to play it!” Liz occupied the position of Principal Harp for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) for thirty y ..read more

The Oregon Symphony in Portland, Ore., has announced an opening for principal harp. Applicants must send a resume by email to auditions@orsymphony.org by Dec. 1, along with an indication of whether or not the applicant plans to bring a harp. The auditions will be held Jan. 8–10, 2024. Employment will begin in September 2024. For more information, including required audition repertoire, visit the orchestra’s website ..read more