06/07
April 2024
April 2024
06/07
April 2024
April 2024
intro
Harp Festival Zurich was established in 2019 together with Musik Hug Zurich and Salvi Music as a multi-instrumental platform, united by one of the oldest instruments – the Harp. More than 200 Harp teachers in Switzerland and several thousand people play this instrument. We are proud to have our own Volk’s Harps, the only double Grammy Award winner – Andreas Vollenweider, modern harp factory – David Harps, and many young performers, alumni of Geneva, Zurich, Basel, Lugano, and Lucerne conservatories. Our mission is to give people an opportunity to learn about this versatile instrument, find more fans and students, support young performers and invent new exciting combinations. COVID 2019 canceled the development of the art, but we would like to regain the development of the Festival and keep going in 2022. Last year the Festival was partly dedicated to the victims of the war, uniting the players from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, making a concert of the choir and orchestra of the Refugees who entered Switzerland in 2022, and helping charity organizations achieve their goals. Also, Swiss artists were presented performing on the Electric Harps, and a new exciting competition, Swiss Harp Award, was made to increase the interest of the young generation. In 2024, we are delighted to uphold our values and showcase the most innovative harp developments, including Harp-E, the electric harp accessible to all. We're excited about unique duos with alphorns and guitars, and our collaboration with the Swiss Harp Association to gather all harpists in Switzerland for a conference and joint concert. Mark your calendars: on April 6th, the Swiss Harp Award at Music Hug; on April 7th, the Harp Gala at Toni Areal featuring the top five competition finalists and a diverse array of artists. The audience will also serve as the jury to select the main winner of the award. |
how to participate
Please fill in the form and you will be contacted in the next few days
Apply for a participation
Please fill in the form and you will be contacted in the next few days.
program 2022
Day 1
Day 2
September 1
10:00 – Musik Hug Zurich – Harp Exhibition’s opening
12:00 – First round Lira Helvetia Competition in Zurich, Kriens, Allschwil, Lausanne
17:00 – Park Seleger Moor – Opening Concert of solidarity "Für die Zukunft":
Valeriya Kurylchuk (Ukraine), Maksim Barbash (Belarus), Alexander Boldachev (Russia Switzerland).
Program: Myroslav Skoryk, Valentin Silvestrov, Valery Voronov (world-premiere), Alexander Litvinovsky (world-premiere), Sergei Slonimsky, Alexander Boldachev (world-premiere)
12:00 – First round Lira Helvetia Competition in Zurich, Kriens, Allschwil, Lausanne
17:00 – Park Seleger Moor – Opening Concert of solidarity "Für die Zukunft":
Valeriya Kurylchuk (Ukraine), Maksim Barbash (Belarus), Alexander Boldachev (Russia Switzerland).
Program: Myroslav Skoryk, Valentin Silvestrov, Valery Voronov (world-premiere), Alexander Litvinovsky (world-premiere), Sergei Slonimsky, Alexander Boldachev (world-premiere)
September 2
14:00 - Musik Hug Zurich - Interactive presentation "Every harp is different" for all ages
17:00-18:45 – Musik Hug Zurich – Swiss Electric-Harp Scene:
Lea Knecht (German Switzerland), Julie Campiche (French Switzerland), Kety Fusco (Italian Switzerland)
Our artist are performing their own compositions in unique style, using electronic harps.
20:00 – Tonhalle Zurich – Charity concert "Für Harmonie" featuring a Children Choir LYUDY conducted by a refugee from Bucha Tatiana Severenchuk, an Orchestra of refugees, conducted by Yauheni Spiridonov. Together with them, soloists of the Yauheni Spiridonov's Academy LYUDY, Jazz Duo from Kyiv - Pavel Ignatiev and Katiko Purtseladze (Pavel Ignatiev & KaTiKo) and the Ukrainian singer Olga Rossi with unique program for laser harp and the voice of "novaYA".
17:00-18:45 – Musik Hug Zurich – Swiss Electric-Harp Scene:
Lea Knecht (German Switzerland), Julie Campiche (French Switzerland), Kety Fusco (Italian Switzerland)
Our artist are performing their own compositions in unique style, using electronic harps.
20:00 – Tonhalle Zurich – Charity concert "Für Harmonie" featuring a Children Choir LYUDY conducted by a refugee from Bucha Tatiana Severenchuk, an Orchestra of refugees, conducted by Yauheni Spiridonov. Together with them, soloists of the Yauheni Spiridonov's Academy LYUDY, Jazz Duo from Kyiv - Pavel Ignatiev and Katiko Purtseladze (Pavel Ignatiev & KaTiKo) and the Ukrainian singer Olga Rossi with unique program for laser harp and the voice of "novaYA".
September 3
17:00 – Musik Hug Zurich – Grand Finale "Lira Helvetia" with 12 best participants
19:00 – Musik Hug Zurich – Prize announcement and Closing ceremony of the competition with participation of David Joss and Lorenz Mühlemann, Swiss specialists in playing rare folk instruments: the lyre harp and the Swiss bow harp
19:00 – Musik Hug Zurich – Prize announcement and Closing ceremony of the competition with participation of David Joss and Lorenz Mühlemann, Swiss specialists in playing rare folk instruments: the lyre harp and the Swiss bow harp
September 4
14:00 - Lake Zurich – During the day we will have spontaneous performances on Zurich Lake Promenade
17:00 – Sechseläutenplatz – Harp and Church Bells - closing composition of the Harp Festival Zurich
17:00 – Sechseläutenplatz – Harp and Church Bells - closing composition of the Harp Festival Zurich
competition
The Swiss Harp Award is an integral part of the Harp Festival Zurich, and this is the second edition of the Swiss Harp Competition Lira Helvetia, which took place in 2022.
The first round of the Swiss Harp Competition Lira Helvetia 2022 occurred in two cities: Zurich and Lucerne, leading up to the Grand Finale at one of Europe's most historic music houses on Zurich's Limmatquai - Musik Hug Zurich.
The Swiss Harp Award 2024 is a talent showcase open to harpists of all ages and levels. Created in collaboration with the Musik Hug, the competition has two main goals:
1. To discover talented harpists, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their skills on a grand stage and receive expert feedback from the jury.
2. To contribute to the development of an independent and distinctive Swiss cultural identity through the universal language of music.
Intentionally, we do not divide the participants by age or professional categories, as artistic expression, the ability to engage the audience, and high-quality, stylish performance are the key factors.
Performances can feature any type of harp – from classical and lever harps to electronic or folk harps.
We wish to ignite a passion for the harp throughout Switzerland and beyond, transforming this classical instrument into a symbol of modernity and style.
The first round of the Swiss Harp Competition Lira Helvetia 2022 occurred in two cities: Zurich and Lucerne, leading up to the Grand Finale at one of Europe's most historic music houses on Zurich's Limmatquai - Musik Hug Zurich.
The Swiss Harp Award 2024 is a talent showcase open to harpists of all ages and levels. Created in collaboration with the Musik Hug, the competition has two main goals:
1. To discover talented harpists, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their skills on a grand stage and receive expert feedback from the jury.
2. To contribute to the development of an independent and distinctive Swiss cultural identity through the universal language of music.
Intentionally, we do not divide the participants by age or professional categories, as artistic expression, the ability to engage the audience, and high-quality, stylish performance are the key factors.
Performances can feature any type of harp – from classical and lever harps to electronic or folk harps.
We wish to ignite a passion for the harp throughout Switzerland and beyond, transforming this classical instrument into a symbol of modernity and style.
learn more
Alexander Boldachev
Founder & Artistic Director
Swiss-Russian harpist, composer, arranger, guest soloist at the Bolshoi Theater, and official artist of Salvi Harps. Prize-holder of various international competitions and awards, such as ProEuropa, Aoyama Music, Prix Walo, and many others.
Has produced more than 200 classical and pop arrangements and 30 compositions for harp and ensembles. Alexander is constantly touring around the world with concerts and workshops. Has six published albums.
Has produced more than 200 classical and pop arrangements and 30 compositions for harp and ensembles. Alexander is constantly touring around the world with concerts and workshops. Has six published albums.
history
2019
The Festival had 5 main events, a harp exhibition, and workshops. We presented Jazz, Classical, Electronic, and Multigenre music from Russia, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA.
Headliners: Remy van Kesteren and Park Stickney. We were happy to have Kurt Aeschbacher as a moderator on our events. Over 1000 people were wising our concerts.
The Festival had 5 main events, a harp exhibition, and workshops. We presented Jazz, Classical, Electronic, and Multigenre music from Russia, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA.
Headliners: Remy van Kesteren and Park Stickney. We were happy to have Kurt Aeschbacher as a moderator on our events. Over 1000 people were wising our concerts.
2021
The Festival had three main events, mostly online due to pandemics. We presented Swiss Folk, Alternative, Fingerstyle, and Classical. Over 100 people we visiting our concert live and we had around 5’000 online listeners.
Headliners: Alex Misko and Andreas Vollenweider.
The Festival had three main events, mostly online due to pandemics. We presented Swiss Folk, Alternative, Fingerstyle, and Classical. Over 100 people we visiting our concert live and we had around 5’000 online listeners.
Headliners: Alex Misko and Andreas Vollenweider.
you can support us
Harp Festival Zurich is doing a project together with Swiss and Ukrainian musicians, Swiss Asylum Orchestra and Refugee Children Choir. Together we are raising money for Orphans with rare illnesses through "OrphanHelathcare" and Swiss Help to the Refugees through "Glückskette".
Your help is very much appreciated.
donate now
partners & donors 2022
co-founding partners 2019
contacts
- Alexander Boldachev
- Polina Skryabina
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