17th Contest 2009 – No First Prize Winner

First Prize: No First Prize   Second Prize: Ina Zdorovetchi, Moldova Rosalind G. Weindling Prize: US $6,000   Third Prize: Remy van Kesteren, the Netherlands In memory of Rachel Graetz: US $4,000   Ina Zdorovetchi, Moldova, won: Chamber Music Prize in memory of Yona Ettinger: US $ 3,000 For the best performance of the Chamber [...]

16th Contest 2006 – 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 ” [...]

12th Contest 1994 – No First Prize Winner

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 attended 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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]