Swiss Harp Award

about

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 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.

Schedule

Application and video submission: 10th of March 2024

Results and invitations to the Semi-final Round: 14th of March 2024

Semi-Final Round: 6th of April 2024

Final and Prize Announcements: 7th of April 2024

Rounds

Qualifying Round - through HD video

Semi-Final - Public live appearance in Music Hug Zurich

Final - Public live appearance in Toni Areal Zurich

Age limits

No age limits

repertoire

In the Qualifying Round, Semi-Final, and Final, you can perform any piece not exceeding 5 minutes that, in your opinion, best showcases your technical, musical, and artistic qualities. You are free to choose a piece that resonates with you and in which you feel most confident.

In each of the three rounds of the competition you can perform either the same piece or different ones - it's entirely up to you. We encourage you to express your creative individuality and present us with the utmost of your musical mastery.

* The performance is possible on both classical or level harps, as well as on electric or folk harps.

In the Qualifying Round, the evaluation will be conducted by members of World Harp Day. In the Semi-Final, the jury consists of renowned musicians, professors, and managers (all names will be published on the website no later than February 20 and are subject to change). In the Final, the audience at the concert serves as the jury.
The jury (in qualifying round и pre-final) will give their marks in three categories: Stage Presence, Technical Aspects, and Style. Each mark is between 1.0 and 10.0.
In the Final, each participant is assigned a number from 1 to 5, and each audience member receives a ballot with numbers from 1 to 5. Audience members mark the number corresponding to their favorite performer on the ballots.
On March 13, 2024, the results of the Qualifying Round and the schedule with contestants for the Semi-Final round will be sent to all participants by email and posted on the website.
The Semi-Final and Final, held in Zurich, are open to the public.
The live performance time for Semi-Final is chosen randomly and could be changed only with a reasonable point. To switch the time with someone, please, notify us no later than the 4th of April 2024.
Only 5 participants will advance to the Final.
The Final takes place within a concert where participants perform on the same stage as renowned musicians in the first part. Vote counting occurs during the second part of the concert. At the end of the second part, the results are announced. 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd places receive equal prizes and the Diploma of Swiss Harp Award finalist. The participant with the highest score and in the 1st place receives the main prize and the Diploma of Swiss Harp Award finalist.
Participants will be provided with one Concert Grand pedal harp and one lever harp (38 strings) from Salvi Harps (models will be announced later). All special requests must be sent to the competition organizers by email no later than 15th of March 2024. While we will do our best to accommodate your request, it depends on the availability of the specified harp. We also welcome participants bringing their own instruments. For performances on an electric harp, please submit a request for additional equipment needed no later than 20th of March 2024. Please note that we can only fulfill requests if the specified equipment is available.
On the day of the Semi-Final and Final, one room for warm-up is provided with a maximum timing of 20 minutes. The warm-up schedule is sent one day before the Semi-Final and one day before the Final. Warm-up is only possible on the day of the Semi-Final and Final. The warm-up will take place on a harp of the same model as provided for the performance.
Snacks, beverages, and all necessary informational assistance will be provided during the Swiss Harp Award.
The Swiss Harp Award Committee is not responsible for any accidents involving competitors during the competition, nor for any loss or damage to a competitor's instrument and personal belongings.
Travel and medical insurance are recommended.
The Swiss Harp Award will provide a list of friendly hotels with reasonable prices.
Accommodation and travel costs are the responsibility of the contestants.
The organizers reserve the right to record, photograph, and broadcast any part of the competition for promotional and archival purposes. Participants will not be entitled to compensation for the use of their images or recordings.

prizes

All participants in the Semi-Final and Final, as well as two accompanying individuals per participant, will have the opportunity to attend Zürich Harp Festival events for free.

Participants who do not advance to the Final will receive a consolation prize and a participant diploma.

The 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd places in the Final are considered equivalent. Participants securing these places will receive a Sipario BioCarbon harp strings set and a Diploma of Swiss Harp Award finalist.

The participant with the highest score in the Final and securing the 1st place will receive a main prize: Harp-E and a Diploma of Swiss Harp Award finalist

jury members

registration information

The application form could be filled out here with all the necessary documents and answers no later than 10th of March 2024, including the Link to the Video on YouTube (private) or any other storing platform.

The registration fee is 50 CHF paid by PayPal or to Bank Account (incl. Name and Age of contestant).
A refund is relevant only if the organizers cancel the competition.

After checking all the documents, confirmation of the registration will come per e-mail

video characteristics

The video should be HD quality, horizontal, and include at least 80% of the harp and performer.

Better to put the camera (or good phone) right in front of the Harp and turn the instrument diagonally so that the column does not interfere with the view. The camera should be stable.

The video shouldn’t have any background noises and glitches and could be cut/edited only between the compositions.

At the beginning of the video, the contestant should say his/her name, age, and compositions/composer name, which will be performed (also, please, put it in the description of the video).

application form