Winners of Previous Contests
1st Contest 1959
Susanna Mildonian, Belgium
2nd Contest 1962
Lynn Turner,U.S.A.
3rd Contest 1965
Martine Geliot, France
4th Contest 1970
Chantal Mathieu, France
5th Contest 1973
Nancy Allen, U.S.A
6th Contest 1976
Ivan Ion Roncea, Romania
7th Contest 1979
Emily Mitchell, U.S.A
An acknowledged concert soloist, chamber musician, orchestral harpist, and teacher (on the artist faculties of New York University and Purchase College, State University of New York), Ms. Mitchell is also an established name in the Broadway orchestra pits, and in the television, motion picture, and recording studios of New York City. Through her popular recordings for RCA Victor she is recognized as an admirer of folk music, singing and accompanying herself on the Celtic harp. Her most recent concert harp recordings are Impromptu and Mozart Variations on the JMR Label. A new album of songs written by Emily Mitchell will also be released on the JMR Label. This spring Ms. Mitchell will publish her harp adaptations of Mozart Piano Concerti nos. 12 and 13, including the Mozart Fantasy in d minor.
Ms. Mitchell serves on the Board of the American Harp Society. She actively contributes to the American Harp Journal, and she will co-chair the 2012, 50th Anniversary Conference of the American Harp Society in New York City.
Close
8th Contest 1982
Alice Giles, Australia
9th Contest 1985
Naoko Yoshino, Japan
10th Contest 1988
Isabelle Moretti, France
11th Contest 1992
Marie-Pierre Langlamet, France
At 17 years of age, she became the principal harpist of the Nice Opera Orchestra. A scholarship enabled her to continue her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Soon afterwards, in 1988, she was appointed assistant principal harpist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York (chief conductor James Levine), where she worked for five years. During this time she continued pursuing her career as a soloist and chamber musician, and in 1992 won first prize at the International Harp Competition in Israel, a competition that is widely regarded as the most important for the instrument. Marie-Pierre Langlamet is also a 1994 Juventus Laureate.
In 1993 she became principal harpist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle), the position she still holds today.
She has performed as soloist with numerous renowned orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Lille national Orchestra, the swiss radio orchestra of Lugano... Her solo engagements have brought her to perform in such halls as the Suntory Hall (Tokyo), the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), the Royal Albert Hall (London), the Avery Fisher Hall (New York), the Grosses Festspielhaus (Salzburg), the Philharmonie (Berlin), the KKL (Luzern)...and many others.
Close
12th Contest 1994
No First Prize Winner
13th Contest 1998
Gwyneth Wentink, Holland
14th Contest 2001
Letizia Belmondo, Italy
15th Contest 2003
Varvara Ivanova, Russia
16th Contest 2007
Sivan Magen, Israel
Susanna Mildonian, Belgium
Born in Venice in 1940 of Armenian parents, Suzanna Mildonian studied harp with Margherita Cicognari at the Benedetto Marcello conservatoire in her native city where she obtained the first prize in 1959.
In 1962, further studies with Pierre Jamet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris were again rewarded with a first prize.
Suzanna Mildonian is the only harpist ever to win a first prize in the three most important international harp competitions :
1959 in the International Music Competition in Israel;
1964 at the International Music Competition in Geneva, Switzerland,
with a unanimous decision from the jury;
1971 at the International Competition "Marcel Tournier" in Paris.
It was also in Paris that she was awarded the prestigious "Grand Prix du Disque"
From the age of 14, Suzanna MILDONIAN has been performing in Italy and abroad. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in New York in 1972. She was performed with many leading orchestras all over the world and has given recitals in Europe, the United States, Japan, Russia, Korea and Taiwan.
Suzanna MILDONIAN was professor of harp at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels; she also teaches at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena.
Close
It was also in Paris that she was awarded the prestigious "Grand Prix du Disque"
From the age of 14, Suzanna MILDONIAN has been performing in Italy and abroad. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in New York in 1972. She was performed with many leading orchestras all over the world and has given recitals in Europe, the United States, Japan, Russia, Korea and Taiwan.
Suzanna MILDONIAN was professor of harp at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels; she also teaches at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena.
Close
2nd Contest 1962
Lynn Turner,U.S.A.
Lynne Turner joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1962, shortly after becoming the first American to win Israel's International Harp Competition. Born in Saint Louis, she came to Chicago at the age of four and started piano lessons with her mother, Evelyn, at the age of eight.
Her father, So Turner, was a member of the first violin section of the Orchestra for twenty years. When she was ten, he introduced her to the harp, which became her chosen instrument. Lynne studied with Pierre Jamet at the Paris Conservatory and graduated with highest honors, earning the première prix, première nommée, hors concours.
After completing her studies in Paris, Lynne auditioned for CSO music director Fritz Renier: she was twenty one years old when she joined the Orchestra, the youngest musician in a major America orchestra at that time. In subsequent years, she has appeared with orchestras throughout the world and has served as acting principal harp of the CSO. She has been on the faculties of DePaul University and lake Forest College and currently teaches privately.
In celebration of Israel's fiftieth anniversary, Lynne performed at a gala concert in Jerusalem featuring the first prize winners of the Israel competition - a distinguished group representing Australia, France, Italy, Japan and Romania as well as the United States. The performance at this event is featured in a forthcoming documentary, The Harps of Jerusalem: An International Celebration. This documentary was conceived and produced by her son, Bennett, a filmmaker and writer who has made a number of films for PBS and has coauthored The Student Body, a thriller he wrote with thriller he wrote with three classmates from Harvard. Other artists in Lynne's family include her daughter Rachel, a photo stylist and interior decorator based in New York, and her brother, Richard, now in his twenty-eighth season as principal harp of the Winnipeg Symphony.
A gourmet cook extraordinaire, Lynne says that the addition to music "crating beautiful food in a stylish setting is an art from I greatly enjoy". She is married to Dr. Albert Tennenbaum, an ophthalmologist, who shares her passion for classical music, traveling, gardening, photography, and bringing together friends for dinner parties.
Lynne is listed in Who's Who in American Women, and Who's Who in Entertainment, among other publications.
Close
After completing her studies in Paris, Lynne auditioned for CSO music director Fritz Renier: she was twenty one years old when she joined the Orchestra, the youngest musician in a major America orchestra at that time. In subsequent years, she has appeared with orchestras throughout the world and has served as acting principal harp of the CSO. She has been on the faculties of DePaul University and lake Forest College and currently teaches privately.
In celebration of Israel's fiftieth anniversary, Lynne performed at a gala concert in Jerusalem featuring the first prize winners of the Israel competition - a distinguished group representing Australia, France, Italy, Japan and Romania as well as the United States. The performance at this event is featured in a forthcoming documentary, The Harps of Jerusalem: An International Celebration. This documentary was conceived and produced by her son, Bennett, a filmmaker and writer who has made a number of films for PBS and has coauthored The Student Body, a thriller he wrote with thriller he wrote with three classmates from Harvard. Other artists in Lynne's family include her daughter Rachel, a photo stylist and interior decorator based in New York, and her brother, Richard, now in his twenty-eighth season as principal harp of the Winnipeg Symphony.
A gourmet cook extraordinaire, Lynne says that the addition to music "crating beautiful food in a stylish setting is an art from I greatly enjoy". She is married to Dr. Albert Tennenbaum, an ophthalmologist, who shares her passion for classical music, traveling, gardening, photography, and bringing together friends for dinner parties.
Lynne is listed in Who's Who in American Women, and Who's Who in Entertainment, among other publications.
Close
3rd Contest 1965
Martine Geliot, France
Martine Geliot was born to a family of harpists and studied with Pierre Jamet at the Paris Conservatory, where she won first prize as she also did at the Third International harp Contest in Israel in 1965.
Since then she appeared throughout the world as recitalist and soloist with many orchestras.
Many works were written for her and dedicated to her. Since 1978 she was principal harpist of the Orchestre National de France and a sought after guest artist.
She taught at the Paris Conservatory. She served at the Ninth International Harp Contest in Israel (1985).
Martine Geliot passed away in 1988.
Close
Martine Geliot passed away in 1988.
Close
4th Contest 1970
Chantal Mathieu, France
Chantal Mathieu is a musician and a harpist who's artistic and human qualities are internationally acknowledged. Originally from the North of France, Chantal Mathieu's musical gifts were recognized early on and rewarded by numerous prizes: She won the first prize of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique of Paris when she was only 14 years old in the class of Jacqueline Borot.
This was notably followed by the first prize of the very famous International Harp Contest in Israel and first prize of the International Contest of the Soloists' Guild of Paris, and the 2nd price of the Geneva International Music Competition. Chantal studied harmony, counterpoint and chamber music at the Paris Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique whilst working in several orchestras and continuing her schooling by correspondence. Since, she has pursued an international career as a soloist as well as with famous orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra notably), alongside well-known conductors and famous partners.
Chantal Mathieu likes to interpret all classical music styles, from baroque to contemporary and including romantic music. Furthermore, Chantal contributes to the creation of future music by commissioning new pieces from her numerous composers and friends, whilst transcribing and arranging the pieces that she enjoys for the harp. Her numerous records or CDs. reflect the richness of her repertory (among others: Virtuose Harfe, Bach on the harp, Marcel Tournier Works for harp).
Chantal Mathieu worked in Germany for a while (Symphonic Orchestra of the Norddeutscher Rundfunk and Musikhochshule of Hamburg), before settling in Geneva to start a family. It is with great generosity that she transmits her knowledge to her students at the Lausanne Music High School (Switzerland). Most of them now hold important positions within the musical world. In the same spirit of sharing, Chantal Mathieu invests herself a lot in the associative life. Importantly, she chaired and organized the 8th World Harp Congress in 2002, which brought together more than 1000 harpists in Geneva. Today, Chantal Mathieu initiates and develops many projects in which music production and research hold a crucial place.
Close
Chantal Mathieu likes to interpret all classical music styles, from baroque to contemporary and including romantic music. Furthermore, Chantal contributes to the creation of future music by commissioning new pieces from her numerous composers and friends, whilst transcribing and arranging the pieces that she enjoys for the harp. Her numerous records or CDs. reflect the richness of her repertory (among others: Virtuose Harfe, Bach on the harp, Marcel Tournier Works for harp).
Chantal Mathieu worked in Germany for a while (Symphonic Orchestra of the Norddeutscher Rundfunk and Musikhochshule of Hamburg), before settling in Geneva to start a family. It is with great generosity that she transmits her knowledge to her students at the Lausanne Music High School (Switzerland). Most of them now hold important positions within the musical world. In the same spirit of sharing, Chantal Mathieu invests herself a lot in the associative life. Importantly, she chaired and organized the 8th World Harp Congress in 2002, which brought together more than 1000 harpists in Geneva. Today, Chantal Mathieu initiates and develops many projects in which music production and research hold a crucial place.
Close
5th Contest 1973
Nancy Allen, U.S.A
Hailed by the New York Times, as "a major artist" following her New York recital debut in 1975, Nancy Allen joined the New York Philharmonic in June of 1999 as Principal Harpist. She maintains a busy international concert schedule as well as heading the harp departments of The Juilliard School, Yale School of Music, and the Aspen Music Festival and School.
In addition, Ms. Allen appears regularly with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. In May 2000, Ms. Allen was featured in the Philharmonic's United States premiere of Siegfried Matthus' Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, with Music Director Kurt Masur and Principal Flute Robert Langevin.
Ms. Allen's busy performing schedule includes solo appearances at major international festivals, and has featured collaborations with soprano Kathleen Battle, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, and flutist Carol Wincenc. She has appeared on PBS' Live From Lincoln Center with The Chamber Music Society, as well as with Ms. Battle, and has performed as a recitalist for "Music at the Supreme Court" in Washington, D.C. Ms. Allen's recording of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro with the Tokyo Quartet, flutist Ransom Wilson, and clarinetist David Shifrin received a Grammy Award nomination; she can also be heard on Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, and CRI.
Ms. Allen is a native of New York, where she studied with Pearl Chertok and undertook private studies on piano and oboe. The summer of 1972 took her to Paris, where she studied with Lily Laskine. During that same year, she entered The Juilliard School to study with Marcel Grandjany. In 1973, Ms. Allen won the Fifth International Harp Competition, in Israel, and was later awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Award.
A teacher for more than 20 years, Ms. Allen's students hold positions in prominent orchestras around the globe. She currently resides in New York with her eight-year-old daughter, Claire, who studies piano and cello.
Close
Ms. Allen's busy performing schedule includes solo appearances at major international festivals, and has featured collaborations with soprano Kathleen Battle, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, and flutist Carol Wincenc. She has appeared on PBS' Live From Lincoln Center with The Chamber Music Society, as well as with Ms. Battle, and has performed as a recitalist for "Music at the Supreme Court" in Washington, D.C. Ms. Allen's recording of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro with the Tokyo Quartet, flutist Ransom Wilson, and clarinetist David Shifrin received a Grammy Award nomination; she can also be heard on Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, and CRI.
Ms. Allen is a native of New York, where she studied with Pearl Chertok and undertook private studies on piano and oboe. The summer of 1972 took her to Paris, where she studied with Lily Laskine. During that same year, she entered The Juilliard School to study with Marcel Grandjany. In 1973, Ms. Allen won the Fifth International Harp Competition, in Israel, and was later awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Award.
A teacher for more than 20 years, Ms. Allen's students hold positions in prominent orchestras around the globe. She currently resides in New York with her eight-year-old daughter, Claire, who studies piano and cello.
Close
6th Contest 1976
Ivan Ion Roncea, Romania
Roncea distinguished himself as one of Romania's most popular musicians, playing with all the Philharmonic Orchestras in his country, and performing numerous recitals.
The Romanian harpist graduated the National University of Music in Bucharest, where he was a pupil of Liana Pasquali.
In 1977 and 1979 he studied with professor Pearl Chertok in New York.
He has toured extensively in Europe, in the Middle East, in China, Russia, and the U.S.A., and also appeared as soloist with major orchestras such as: Bucharest George Enescu Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Liege Philharmonic, Dresdner Philharmonic, Janacek Philharmonic, Athens State Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Cardiff BBC Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony, Jerusalem Radio Symphony, Collegium Musicum Copenhagen, Europa Symphony and Budapest Strings. He played in the Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Maastricht, Istambul, Cardiff, La Coruna, and George Enescu Festivals.
Ion Ivan-Roncea played and has recorded for important Radio and TV Stations such as: Sofia, Budapest, Vienna, Jerusalem, Paris, BBC - Cardiff, Copenhagen, Frankfurt am Main, WQXR - New York, Athens, Prague and Bucharest. Some of the best recordings made in Bucharest are incorporated in the National Treasured Sound Collection. He also has made several records, CDs, and DVDs for the Arte Nova Classics-BMG, AIX Records and Electrecord Companies.
Ion Ivan-Roncea is soloist of the Bucharest George Enescu Philharmonic and professor of harp at the Bucharest National University of Music.
He has taught at the summer courses in the United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, France, USA, Austria, Moldova, Russia, Czech Republic and Holland.
Roncea has been invited for several times to the World Harp Congresses as a guest artist. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress (1985-1990), and also he was a member of the Jury at the International Harp Contest in Israel (1988,1992), Cardiff (1991), ASTH-Lyon (1993), Salvi-Saluzzo (1995), Geneva (1997), Weikersheim (1998), Iosef Reinl-Munich (1999), Martine Geliot-Lille (1999), Chisinau (2001), Iosef Reinl-Vienna (2002), UNMB-Bucharest (2002), Lily Laskine-Deauville (2002), ARD-Munich (2004). His repertoire includes original classic and contemporary works for harp, transcriptions, pop, jazz and latin-american pieces, as well as chamber and orchestral music.
Close
He has toured extensively in Europe, in the Middle East, in China, Russia, and the U.S.A., and also appeared as soloist with major orchestras such as: Bucharest George Enescu Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Liege Philharmonic, Dresdner Philharmonic, Janacek Philharmonic, Athens State Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Cardiff BBC Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony, Jerusalem Radio Symphony, Collegium Musicum Copenhagen, Europa Symphony and Budapest Strings. He played in the Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Maastricht, Istambul, Cardiff, La Coruna, and George Enescu Festivals.
Ion Ivan-Roncea played and has recorded for important Radio and TV Stations such as: Sofia, Budapest, Vienna, Jerusalem, Paris, BBC - Cardiff, Copenhagen, Frankfurt am Main, WQXR - New York, Athens, Prague and Bucharest. Some of the best recordings made in Bucharest are incorporated in the National Treasured Sound Collection. He also has made several records, CDs, and DVDs for the Arte Nova Classics-BMG, AIX Records and Electrecord Companies.
Ion Ivan-Roncea is soloist of the Bucharest George Enescu Philharmonic and professor of harp at the Bucharest National University of Music.
He has taught at the summer courses in the United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, France, USA, Austria, Moldova, Russia, Czech Republic and Holland.
Roncea has been invited for several times to the World Harp Congresses as a guest artist. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the World Harp Congress (1985-1990), and also he was a member of the Jury at the International Harp Contest in Israel (1988,1992), Cardiff (1991), ASTH-Lyon (1993), Salvi-Saluzzo (1995), Geneva (1997), Weikersheim (1998), Iosef Reinl-Munich (1999), Martine Geliot-Lille (1999), Chisinau (2001), Iosef Reinl-Vienna (2002), UNMB-Bucharest (2002), Lily Laskine-Deauville (2002), ARD-Munich (2004). His repertoire includes original classic and contemporary works for harp, transcriptions, pop, jazz and latin-american pieces, as well as chamber and orchestral music.
Close
7th Contest 1979
Emily Mitchell, U.S.A
Emily Mitchell has earned critical acclaim as "a marvelous harpist" (The New York Times) who captivates her audiences with "playing of the utmost delicacy, beauty and subtlety." (Records and Recording) In the words of The Washington Post, "Mitchell commands a vivid palette of colors and uses them with imagination."
An acknowledged concert soloist, chamber musician, orchestral harpist, and teacher (on the artist faculties of New York University and Purchase College, State University of New York), Ms. Mitchell is also an established name in the Broadway orchestra pits, and in the television, motion picture, and recording studios of New York City. Through her popular recordings for RCA Victor she is recognized as an admirer of folk music, singing and accompanying herself on the Celtic harp. Her most recent concert harp recordings are Impromptu and Mozart Variations on the JMR Label. A new album of songs written by Emily Mitchell will also be released on the JMR Label. This spring Ms. Mitchell will publish her harp adaptations of Mozart Piano Concerti nos. 12 and 13, including the Mozart Fantasy in d minor.
Ms. Mitchell serves on the Board of the American Harp Society. She actively contributes to the American Harp Journal, and she will co-chair the 2012, 50th Anniversary Conference of the American Harp Society in New York City.
Close
8th Contest 1982
Alice Giles, Australia
Alice Giles has been acclaimed as one of the world's leading harp soloists. The Australian-born musician first attracted international notice in 1982 when she won the First Prize in Israel's International Harp Contest at the age of 21. Since then she has performed extensively both in recital and with
orchestra in Europe, America, Australia, and Israel.
She studied in Sydney with June Loney and presented her first solo recital at the age of thirteen. In 1980, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and an Australia Council Grant to study with Alice Chalifoux in the USA. She made her New York debut at Merkin Hall in 1983, and was invited by Rudolf Serkin to participate for three summers in the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, USA.
She has been a featured artist at numerous festivals, including the Salzedo Centennial in Austin, Texas, World Harp Congress in Copenhagen, 1997 Edinburgh Harp Festival, Bath Mozartfest, Scotia Festival, Adelaide and Sydney Festivals, Schleswig-Holstein and Insel Hombroich Festivals in Germany, the 1998 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, and 1998 Barossa Festival in South Australia.
Concert highlights include solo recitals in London's Wigmore Hall, New York's 92nd Street Y, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Berlin Philharmonie and concertos with the Collegium Musicum Zurich, Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, the English Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Hamburg Mozart Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Taiwan, and a tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra, including a concert in Carnegie Hall featuring the first performance of a new concerto by Barry Conyngham. She has toured regularly in Australia since 1984 performing with all major Australian symphony and chamber orchestras and the Australia Ensemble.
Alice Giles is regarded by Luciano Berio as the foremost interpreter of his Sequenza II and has taken part in tributes to Berio at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London, Salzburg Mozarteum and at the 92nd Street Y in New York to honour his 70th birthday. She has given many first performances of music for her instrument.
She has an international reputation as a teacher, having given masterclasses in the Salzburg Mozarteum, Den Haag Conservatorium, Royal Academy London, Cleveland Institute USA, at the International Youth Festival in Bayreuth 1987-89, and annually in Alf/Mosel, Germany since 1989. From 1990 to 1998 she was harp teacher at the Hochschule fur Musik in Frankfurt, Germany, and has recently been appointed to the Canberra School of Music in Australia.
In 1999 she performed Gliere's Harp Concerto with the Adelaide Symphony, Spohr Violin and Harp Concerto with the Queensland Symphony, and Henze's Concerto for Harp and Oboe with the Sydney Symphony. In 2000 Alice will perform in concert with the West Australian Symphony and Ginestera's Harp Concerto with the Sydney Symphony. She will also tour in Europe, including performances of Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto in Zürich and Basel, in the Insel Hombroich Festival, and in the United States, including recitals in San Francisco and Philadelphia and master classes in the Curtis and Julliard Schools.
She was on the jury for the 1998 International Harp Contest in Israel. She performs in many different chamber music ensembles, including the "Duo Corda" with her husband Arnan Wiesel, piano, and the German based "Ensemble Animabile". She is co-founder and director of "EOLUS - International Salzedo Society".
Alice Giles' discography includes two solo harp discs, a disc with "Duo Corda" and a disc with the Budapest Brass Quintet all on the Koch label; a flute and harp disc with Geoffrey Collins for Tall Poppies Australia; and chamber music discs for the Marlboro Recording Society, CDI and TMK. In 1999 an ABC Classics CD of concertos by Gliere, Jolivet and Ginestera with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Porcelijn was released to critical acclaim and in the same year Alice began a series of recordings for ARTWORKS. These CDs will feature the music of harpist Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961), a composer Alice has championed all over the world both in recital and on CD.
Close
She has been a featured artist at numerous festivals, including the Salzedo Centennial in Austin, Texas, World Harp Congress in Copenhagen, 1997 Edinburgh Harp Festival, Bath Mozartfest, Scotia Festival, Adelaide and Sydney Festivals, Schleswig-Holstein and Insel Hombroich Festivals in Germany, the 1998 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, and 1998 Barossa Festival in South Australia.
Concert highlights include solo recitals in London's Wigmore Hall, New York's 92nd Street Y, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Berlin Philharmonie and concertos with the Collegium Musicum Zurich, Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, the English Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Hamburg Mozart Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Taiwan, and a tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra, including a concert in Carnegie Hall featuring the first performance of a new concerto by Barry Conyngham. She has toured regularly in Australia since 1984 performing with all major Australian symphony and chamber orchestras and the Australia Ensemble.
Alice Giles is regarded by Luciano Berio as the foremost interpreter of his Sequenza II and has taken part in tributes to Berio at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London, Salzburg Mozarteum and at the 92nd Street Y in New York to honour his 70th birthday. She has given many first performances of music for her instrument.
She has an international reputation as a teacher, having given masterclasses in the Salzburg Mozarteum, Den Haag Conservatorium, Royal Academy London, Cleveland Institute USA, at the International Youth Festival in Bayreuth 1987-89, and annually in Alf/Mosel, Germany since 1989. From 1990 to 1998 she was harp teacher at the Hochschule fur Musik in Frankfurt, Germany, and has recently been appointed to the Canberra School of Music in Australia.
In 1999 she performed Gliere's Harp Concerto with the Adelaide Symphony, Spohr Violin and Harp Concerto with the Queensland Symphony, and Henze's Concerto for Harp and Oboe with the Sydney Symphony. In 2000 Alice will perform in concert with the West Australian Symphony and Ginestera's Harp Concerto with the Sydney Symphony. She will also tour in Europe, including performances of Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto in Zürich and Basel, in the Insel Hombroich Festival, and in the United States, including recitals in San Francisco and Philadelphia and master classes in the Curtis and Julliard Schools.
She was on the jury for the 1998 International Harp Contest in Israel. She performs in many different chamber music ensembles, including the "Duo Corda" with her husband Arnan Wiesel, piano, and the German based "Ensemble Animabile". She is co-founder and director of "EOLUS - International Salzedo Society".
Alice Giles' discography includes two solo harp discs, a disc with "Duo Corda" and a disc with the Budapest Brass Quintet all on the Koch label; a flute and harp disc with Geoffrey Collins for Tall Poppies Australia; and chamber music discs for the Marlboro Recording Society, CDI and TMK. In 1999 an ABC Classics CD of concertos by Gliere, Jolivet and Ginestera with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Porcelijn was released to critical acclaim and in the same year Alice began a series of recordings for ARTWORKS. These CDs will feature the music of harpist Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961), a composer Alice has championed all over the world both in recital and on CD.
Close
9th Contest 1985
Naoko Yoshino, Japan
Being one of the most outstanding harpists in the international platform today, Ms. Yoshino's solo engagements with the world's top orchestras have included the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Concentus Musicus Wien among others.
Renowned conductors with whom she has shared the stage include Menuhin, Ozawa, Sawallisch, Mehta, Sinopoli, Harnoncourt, Blomstedt, Dutoit, and Vonk.
A frequent guest at the Lucerne, Salzburg, Lockenhaus, Schleswig-Holstein, Saito Kinen, Marlboro, and Mostly Mozart Festivals, Naoko Yoshino is also known as a recitalist and chamber musician. In 1994, she earned the honor of performing at The Vatican to commemorate the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. Through chamber music, she has come to work with such renowned musicians as violinist Gidon Kremer, violists Veronika Hagen and Nobuko Imai, horn player Radek Baborak, flutists Aurèle Nicolet, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Wolfgang Schulz, and Emmanuel Pahud.
As an advocate of new repertoire for harp, Ms. Yoshino has premiered many works, including Toru Takemitsu's "And then I knew 'twas Wind" and Toshio Hosokawa's "Harp Concerto". Recordings to date include five releases on Sony Classical, four releases on Philips Classics, and one release on Teldec.
Prizes achieved include: second place - First International Harp Contest (Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome), at the age of 13; first place - Ninth International Harp Contest 1985 (Israel), where she was the youngest participant; 1988, Arts Festival Prize (Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs); 1989 Mobil Music Award for Brilliant Young Musicians.
Born in London, Naoko Yoshino began to study harp at the age of six in Los Angeles, California, with the eminent Susann McDonald, current Distinguished Professor of Music at Indiana University. She started her worldwide career in 1985, after winning first prize at the Ninth International Harp Contest in Israel.
Close
A frequent guest at the Lucerne, Salzburg, Lockenhaus, Schleswig-Holstein, Saito Kinen, Marlboro, and Mostly Mozart Festivals, Naoko Yoshino is also known as a recitalist and chamber musician. In 1994, she earned the honor of performing at The Vatican to commemorate the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. Through chamber music, she has come to work with such renowned musicians as violinist Gidon Kremer, violists Veronika Hagen and Nobuko Imai, horn player Radek Baborak, flutists Aurèle Nicolet, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Wolfgang Schulz, and Emmanuel Pahud.
As an advocate of new repertoire for harp, Ms. Yoshino has premiered many works, including Toru Takemitsu's "And then I knew 'twas Wind" and Toshio Hosokawa's "Harp Concerto". Recordings to date include five releases on Sony Classical, four releases on Philips Classics, and one release on Teldec.
Prizes achieved include: second place - First International Harp Contest (Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome), at the age of 13; first place - Ninth International Harp Contest 1985 (Israel), where she was the youngest participant; 1988, Arts Festival Prize (Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs); 1989 Mobil Music Award for Brilliant Young Musicians.
Born in London, Naoko Yoshino began to study harp at the age of six in Los Angeles, California, with the eminent Susann McDonald, current Distinguished Professor of Music at Indiana University. She started her worldwide career in 1985, after winning first prize at the Ninth International Harp Contest in Israel.
Close
10th Contest 1988
Isabelle Moretti, France
Her recent recordings for NAIVE, Joaquin Rodrigo's Harp Concertos and Ginastera's Harp Concertos (Grand Prix Charles Cros 2001) attest to both Isabelle Moretti's musical talent and to her technical talent within the school of the traditional French harp in which she is the most dynamic ambassador. Her style can be described as one of freshness, character and nobility, which is easily recognizable among her colleagues.
Laureate of international competitions in Geneva, Munich, and Israel where she obtained the highest award in 1988, Isabelle Moretti has been invited to perform worldwide at the most prestigious venues and festivals, such as the Alice Tully Hall in New York, Maison de Radio-France in Paris, Evian International Music Festival, Wigmore Hall in London and Soka International Festival in Japan. She is a soloist with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischer Rundfunks, Orchestre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine, Orchestre National de Lyon, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie in Bremen, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Israel Symphony Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra, SWR Sinfonieorchester, Orquesta de Córdoba, Orquesta Sinfónica de la RTVE, Orchestre de la Suisse-Romande, Varsovia National Philharmonie, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and will soon be touring with the Zagreb Soloists.
Her solo repertoire encompasses XVIIIth century first sonatas for pedal harp to the more complex contemporary scores, which she regularly premieres in her recitals, such as works by Michèle Reverdy and FranÇoise Choveaux. Her regular chamber music partners include flutist Philippe Bernold, violinist Gérard Poulet, violist Gérard Caussé, cellist Henri Demarquette, oboist FranÇois Leleux, and the Lindsay, Parisii, Manfred, Ysae and Psophos string quartets.
Isabelle Moretti has recorded a total of nine CDs to great critical acclaim; the Musique de Chambre pour Harpe featuring Ravel's septet, Caplet The Mask of the Red Death (after the famous Poe's novel) and Jean Cras' quintet was awarded Choc by Le Monde de la Musique, a Dix by Repertoire as well as the Grand Prize of the Nouvelle Academie du Disque.
Since 1995, Isabelle Moretti has been Professor of Harp at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where she graduated with a First Prize.
In 2005-2006, Isabelle Moretti is invited to Sardaigne, Germany, London, Cardiff, Compiègne (Thèatre Impèrial), Quèbec, Nancy (Salle Poirel), Rennes, Saint-Malè, Polish, Paris, Maison Laffitte, Auvers-sur-Oise... Next autumn will see the release of Philippe Hesant's CDs with the label Triton for which she recorded Choral for harp and cello with Henri Demarquette.
Close
Her solo repertoire encompasses XVIIIth century first sonatas for pedal harp to the more complex contemporary scores, which she regularly premieres in her recitals, such as works by Michèle Reverdy and FranÇoise Choveaux. Her regular chamber music partners include flutist Philippe Bernold, violinist Gérard Poulet, violist Gérard Caussé, cellist Henri Demarquette, oboist FranÇois Leleux, and the Lindsay, Parisii, Manfred, Ysae and Psophos string quartets.
Isabelle Moretti has recorded a total of nine CDs to great critical acclaim; the Musique de Chambre pour Harpe featuring Ravel's septet, Caplet The Mask of the Red Death (after the famous Poe's novel) and Jean Cras' quintet was awarded Choc by Le Monde de la Musique, a Dix by Repertoire as well as the Grand Prize of the Nouvelle Academie du Disque.
Since 1995, Isabelle Moretti has been Professor of Harp at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where she graduated with a First Prize.
In 2005-2006, Isabelle Moretti is invited to Sardaigne, Germany, London, Cardiff, Compiègne (Thèatre Impèrial), Quèbec, Nancy (Salle Poirel), Rennes, Saint-Malè, Polish, Paris, Maison Laffitte, Auvers-sur-Oise... Next autumn will see the release of Philippe Hesant's CDs with the label Triton for which she recorded Choral for harp and cello with Henri Demarquette.
Close
11th Contest 1992
Marie-Pierre Langlamet, France
Marie-Pierre Langlamet was born in Grenoble (France) in 1967, and received her first musical instruction at the Nice Conservatoire. She studied harp with Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche, and a
ttended masterclasses with Lily Laskine and Jacqueline Borot. Already in early years she was winning international competitions, such as the 2nd prize (top prize) of the Maria Korchinska competition in the Isle of Man (UK) in 1983, the 1st prize of the Louise Charpentier Competition (Paris) in 1984, and the 2nd prize (top prize) of the CIEM in Geneva in 1986.
At 17 years of age, she became the principal harpist of the Nice Opera Orchestra. A scholarship enabled her to continue her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Soon afterwards, in 1988, she was appointed assistant principal harpist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York (chief conductor James Levine), where she worked for five years. During this time she continued pursuing her career as a soloist and chamber musician, and in 1992 won first prize at the International Harp Competition in Israel, a competition that is widely regarded as the most important for the instrument. Marie-Pierre Langlamet is also a 1994 Juventus Laureate.
In 1993 she became principal harpist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle), the position she still holds today.
She has performed as soloist with numerous renowned orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Lille national Orchestra, the swiss radio orchestra of Lugano... Her solo engagements have brought her to perform in such halls as the Suntory Hall (Tokyo), the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), the Royal Albert Hall (London), the Avery Fisher Hall (New York), the Grosses Festspielhaus (Salzburg), the Philharmonie (Berlin), the KKL (Luzern)...and many others.
Close
12th Contest 1994
No First Prize Winner
13th Contest 1998
Gwyneth Wentink, Holland
Gwyneth Wentink was born in 1981 in The Netherlands as a daughter of Hungarian and Dutch musician parents. Ms. Wentink had her first harp lesson at the age of five. When she was eight she played Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp with The Netherlands National Youth Orchestra in the concert hall "De Doelen " in Rotterdam.
At the age of ten she performed for the Dutch Queen Beatrix. Ms. Wentink has studied at The Utrecht's Conservatory with Erika Waardenburg. She completed her studies with the highest marks with Cum Laude. Ms. Wentink has participated in masterclasses with Maria Graf, Susann McDonald, Catherine Michel, Andree Laurens-King and Susanna Mildonian.
As a soloist with orchestra , Ms. Wentink has performed with I Fiamminghi under the baton of Rudolph Werthen in Brussels, the Orquestra Sinfonica Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho in Caracas, Venezuela, with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Joèl Levy. She has performed as a soloist with The Nieuw Sinfonietta, in the 'Concertgebouw' of Amsterdam, with The Sèdwest Rundfunk Orchester in Germany (Frankfurt, Alter Oper, Baden-Baden, Festspielhaus...). She was a soloist with The Philharmonisch Orkestra of Bergen (Norway) under the baton of Simone Young, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, The Residentie Orkest of The Hague as well as with The Radio Chamber Orchetra under the baton of Pèter Estves. She performed with The National Symphonie Orchest in Bucharest (Rumania), Rotterdams Kamerorkest and the Brabants Symphony Orkestra. Ms. Wentink has performed also in Helsinki, Finland with The Fins Philharmonik Orchestra in The Sibelius Concert Hall. Gwyneth Wentink gave her New York concerto debut in the Alice Tully Hall in 2001with The New York Chamber Symphony. In 2006 she was a soloist in Oviedo and in the Netherlands with the World Youth Orchestre.
Gwyneth Wentink gave solo harp recitals all over the world: Paris, Bucharest Barcelona, Washington DC, Prague, Rome, Venetia, Stresa Festival. Ms. Wentink gave her recital debut in 1999 at the Wigmore-Hall in Londen and at the Merkin-Hall in New York. In March 2002 she gave a concert at the Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall. As a chamber musician and soloist she also performed in 2001 at the Morgan Library with the flutist Eugenia Zukerman in New York. She has been traveling extensively throughout the USA in more than 16 states.
Gwyneth Wentink has been capturing First Prizes since the age of eleven: The Netherlands: The Young Music Talent Foundation, Prinses Christina Concours etc., abroad: The International Nippon Harp Competition in Tokyo, The Torneo Internazionale di Musica in Rome. In 1998 she won the most prestigious International Harp Competition in Israel, where she became the youngest contestant ever to win this competition and was given the special Gulbenkian Prize for the best performance of the Concerto for harp and orchestra by Schafer. In 1999 Ms. Wentink won the First Prize at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York at the age of seventeen. She is the first solo harpist ever to be awarded this distinction in Young Concert Artists' 40-year history. She has been awarded the Beracasa Foundation Prize, the Mortimer Levitt Career Development Award.
In 2000 Ms. Wentink also has been awarded the Aaron & Irene Diamond Soloist Prize, in 2001 the Richard Hall Foundation Prize and most recently (2002) the Netherlands -American Foundation Prize. In the mean time Gwyneth Wentink brought a solo harp CD on the market. This CD has been awarded with the highest marks in the Dutch CD Magazine 'Luister' as The 10 of the Month.
Gwyneth plays with great passion in a variety of chambermusicensembles all around the world and is dedicated to exploring new soundscapes en repertoire for the harp. Since 2005 she plays regurlarly with the worldfamous Indian bansuri player Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and brings the harp into the world of classical Indian music.
There will appear two new CD`s of Gwyneth in 2006. One recording with harpconcerto`s of J.Rodrigo and a new solo CD.
Close
As a soloist with orchestra , Ms. Wentink has performed with I Fiamminghi under the baton of Rudolph Werthen in Brussels, the Orquestra Sinfonica Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho in Caracas, Venezuela, with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Joèl Levy. She has performed as a soloist with The Nieuw Sinfonietta, in the 'Concertgebouw' of Amsterdam, with The Sèdwest Rundfunk Orchester in Germany (Frankfurt, Alter Oper, Baden-Baden, Festspielhaus...). She was a soloist with The Philharmonisch Orkestra of Bergen (Norway) under the baton of Simone Young, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, The Residentie Orkest of The Hague as well as with The Radio Chamber Orchetra under the baton of Pèter Estves. She performed with The National Symphonie Orchest in Bucharest (Rumania), Rotterdams Kamerorkest and the Brabants Symphony Orkestra. Ms. Wentink has performed also in Helsinki, Finland with The Fins Philharmonik Orchestra in The Sibelius Concert Hall. Gwyneth Wentink gave her New York concerto debut in the Alice Tully Hall in 2001with The New York Chamber Symphony. In 2006 she was a soloist in Oviedo and in the Netherlands with the World Youth Orchestre.
Gwyneth Wentink gave solo harp recitals all over the world: Paris, Bucharest Barcelona, Washington DC, Prague, Rome, Venetia, Stresa Festival. Ms. Wentink gave her recital debut in 1999 at the Wigmore-Hall in Londen and at the Merkin-Hall in New York. In March 2002 she gave a concert at the Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall. As a chamber musician and soloist she also performed in 2001 at the Morgan Library with the flutist Eugenia Zukerman in New York. She has been traveling extensively throughout the USA in more than 16 states.
Gwyneth Wentink has been capturing First Prizes since the age of eleven: The Netherlands: The Young Music Talent Foundation, Prinses Christina Concours etc., abroad: The International Nippon Harp Competition in Tokyo, The Torneo Internazionale di Musica in Rome. In 1998 she won the most prestigious International Harp Competition in Israel, where she became the youngest contestant ever to win this competition and was given the special Gulbenkian Prize for the best performance of the Concerto for harp and orchestra by Schafer. In 1999 Ms. Wentink won the First Prize at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York at the age of seventeen. She is the first solo harpist ever to be awarded this distinction in Young Concert Artists' 40-year history. She has been awarded the Beracasa Foundation Prize, the Mortimer Levitt Career Development Award.
In 2000 Ms. Wentink also has been awarded the Aaron & Irene Diamond Soloist Prize, in 2001 the Richard Hall Foundation Prize and most recently (2002) the Netherlands -American Foundation Prize. In the mean time Gwyneth Wentink brought a solo harp CD on the market. This CD has been awarded with the highest marks in the Dutch CD Magazine 'Luister' as The 10 of the Month.
Gwyneth plays with great passion in a variety of chambermusicensembles all around the world and is dedicated to exploring new soundscapes en repertoire for the harp. Since 2005 she plays regurlarly with the worldfamous Indian bansuri player Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and brings the harp into the world of classical Indian music.
There will appear two new CD`s of Gwyneth in 2006. One recording with harpconcerto`s of J.Rodrigo and a new solo CD.
Close
14th Contest 2001
Letizia Belmondo, Italy
In February 2001, Letizia Belmondo won the First Prize and the "Esther Herlitz" Special Prize for the best performance of a contemporary piece in the 14th International Harp Contest in Israel.
Since making her international debut with the RTE Concert Orchestra in Dublin, Ms Belmondo has won an impressive number of competitions and awards, including the Martine Geliot Prize in 1999 and the International Harp Competition in Lausanne in 2000.
One of the most outstanding harpists of her generation, her technique and musicianship has captivated audiences everywhere. Since making her debut at the Wigmore Hall in London, she has performed to great acclaim throughout Europe and the United States. She recorded her first CD in January 2002 for "Egan records". She is now Solo Harpist at the "Opera Royal de la Monnaie" in Brussels (Belgium).
Ms. Belmondo was born in Turin in 1981 and began the cello at 5 and the harp at 8 at the Suzuki Talent Center. She continued the harp at the Conservatoire G. Verdi in Turin with G. Bosio, at the CNSMD de Lyon, France, with Fabrice Pierre (where she graduated with honours in 2002) and at the Juilliard School, New York, with Nancy Allen.
Close
Ms. Belmondo was born in Turin in 1981 and began the cello at 5 and the harp at 8 at the Suzuki Talent Center. She continued the harp at the Conservatoire G. Verdi in Turin with G. Bosio, at the CNSMD de Lyon, France, with Fabrice Pierre (where she graduated with honours in 2002) and at the Juilliard School, New York, with Nancy Allen.
Close
15th Contest 2003
Varvara Ivanova, Russia
Praised by critics and audiences alike, seventeen year old Varvara Ivanova has already performed in major concert venues in Western Europe, Russia and Israel.
Following her London debut performance in Wigmore Hall with the London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Geoffrey Simon, British critic Edward Johnson wrote: "Ivanova demonstrated that she is a born virtuoso. Her sensitivity, beauty of sound and musicality captured the near-capacity audience ... one of the very few harpists who can simultaneously awe and charm."
That performance took place in June 2003 and was co-sponsored by the Victor Salvi Foundation and Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation.
In November 2003, Varvara Ivanova won first prize at the prestigious International Harp Contest in Israel, and received the special award for her performance of Ami Ma'ayani's "Maqamat".
Ms. Ivanova was born into a family of musicians in Moscow and at the age of five began her studies at the Preparatory of Moscow Conservatory in the class of M.F. Maslennikova. A child prodigy, she had her first major performance of the Handel's "Concerto for harp and Orchestra B-dur" at the age of seven at the Big Concert Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with Kremlin Chamber Orchestra.
Throughout her emerging career, Varvara has been awarded major prizes in numerous harp competitions, including first prize at the Lily Laskine Harp Competition, Junior Division, in France and first prize at the Vera Dulova Harp Competition in Russia. She has also been awarded the highly-coveted scholarship from the Rostropovich Music Fund.
In November 2001, Ms. Ivanova replaced Xavier de Maistre, principal harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, on one week notice, on a tour in Germany as a soloist with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra and performed to critical acclaim in Dusseldorf Tonhalle, Hamburg Musikhalle, Munchen Prinzeregentertheater and Frankfurt Alte Oper. A year later, she was a featured soloist at the World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland.
Varvara has also performed as a soloist with other prestigious orchestras, including Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Primo Allegro Chamber Orchestra and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ms. Ivanova was studying in Music College named after F. Chopin in the class of E.A. Moskvitina in Moscow . Recently, she performed solo and chamber music on a concert tour in Russia, took part in some concerts in London, Paris,Vilnius under the auspices of the Rostropovich Music Fund .
She had some recitals at Bemus Music Festival in Belgrade in 2004, Gstaat Music Festival in Switzerland, Harp Music Festival in Belgrade in 2005. Also Varvara had some recitals in Italy.
Varvara has presented her New York debut at Merkin Hall and performed a series of concerts in the United States in Spring of 2005, presented by Victor Salvi Foundation.
Close
In November 2003, Varvara Ivanova won first prize at the prestigious International Harp Contest in Israel, and received the special award for her performance of Ami Ma'ayani's "Maqamat".
Ms. Ivanova was born into a family of musicians in Moscow and at the age of five began her studies at the Preparatory of Moscow Conservatory in the class of M.F. Maslennikova. A child prodigy, she had her first major performance of the Handel's "Concerto for harp and Orchestra B-dur" at the age of seven at the Big Concert Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with Kremlin Chamber Orchestra.
Throughout her emerging career, Varvara has been awarded major prizes in numerous harp competitions, including first prize at the Lily Laskine Harp Competition, Junior Division, in France and first prize at the Vera Dulova Harp Competition in Russia. She has also been awarded the highly-coveted scholarship from the Rostropovich Music Fund.
In November 2001, Ms. Ivanova replaced Xavier de Maistre, principal harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, on one week notice, on a tour in Germany as a soloist with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra and performed to critical acclaim in Dusseldorf Tonhalle, Hamburg Musikhalle, Munchen Prinzeregentertheater and Frankfurt Alte Oper. A year later, she was a featured soloist at the World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland.
Varvara has also performed as a soloist with other prestigious orchestras, including Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Primo Allegro Chamber Orchestra and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ms. Ivanova was studying in Music College named after F. Chopin in the class of E.A. Moskvitina in Moscow . Recently, she performed solo and chamber music on a concert tour in Russia, took part in some concerts in London, Paris,Vilnius under the auspices of the Rostropovich Music Fund .
She had some recitals at Bemus Music Festival in Belgrade in 2004, Gstaat Music Festival in Switzerland, Harp Music Festival in Belgrade in 2005. Also Varvara had some recitals in Italy.
Varvara has presented her New York debut at Merkin Hall and performed a series of concerts in the United States in Spring of 2005, presented by Victor Salvi Foundation.
Close
16th Contest 2007
Sivan Magen, Israel
Following the Israeli harpist Sivan Magen’s April 2006 performance at Alice Tully Hall, the New-York Sun wrote: “Sivan Magen dazzled…Mr. Magen delivered a dramatically charged, suitably mysterious, and stunningly strong-handed realization…His tone was superb”.
Sivan Magen is the First Prize Winner of the 16th International Harp Contest in Israel (2006), in which he has also won the Propes Prize for the best performance of the required Israeli piece, and the Reni? Prize for the best performance of Henriette Reni?’s “Ballade Fantastique”. The First Prize consists of a custom made style 23 gold concert grand harp which will be presented to him in a Gala Recital in Lyon & Healy’s Chicago concert hall, a debut recital in London's Wigmore Hall and a CD recording, both presented by the Victor Salvi Foundation, and a concerto appearance with the Rishon Letzion Symphony Orchestra. Mr Magen is the first Israeli to have won this prestigious contest in its 47 years of existence.
Having won the prestigious “Premier Prix” (Prix mention Tr?s Bien) of the Paris Conservatory, Sivan Magen has performed at Le Trianon and Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Kfar-Blum Festival in Israel, recorded for Israeli Radio and Television, and participated in the 2006 Marlboro Music Festival. As a soloist he performed with most of the Israeli orchestras, including the Israeli Philharmonic.
Born in Jerusalem, Sivan Magen studied the piano with Professor Benjamin Oren and Talma Cohen and the harp with Irena Kaganovsky at the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance. After finishing his military service as an "Outstanding Musician" in 2001, he continued his studies with Germaine Lorenzini in France and was accepted to Isabelle Moretti’s harp class at the Paris Conservatory (CNSMDP) from which he graduated in June 2005. He’s currently a member of Nancy Allen’s studio at the Juilliard School in New York.
Sivan Magen is a winner of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships since 1995.
Close
Having won the prestigious “Premier Prix” (Prix mention Tr?s Bien) of the Paris Conservatory, Sivan Magen has performed at Le Trianon and Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Kfar-Blum Festival in Israel, recorded for Israeli Radio and Television, and participated in the 2006 Marlboro Music Festival. As a soloist he performed with most of the Israeli orchestras, including the Israeli Philharmonic.
Born in Jerusalem, Sivan Magen studied the piano with Professor Benjamin Oren and Talma Cohen and the harp with Irena Kaganovsky at the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance. After finishing his military service as an "Outstanding Musician" in 2001, he continued his studies with Germaine Lorenzini in France and was accepted to Isabelle Moretti’s harp class at the Paris Conservatory (CNSMDP) from which he graduated in June 2005. He’s currently a member of Nancy Allen’s studio at the Juilliard School in New York.
Sivan Magen is a winner of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships since 1995.
Close
A site by Raz Schwartz