The North London Festival is delighted to announce the United Kingdom Harp Association as sponsors of the harp competitions at the North London Festival in 2022. As part of this involvement, the former Camac Harp Competition has been renamed as the United Kingdom Harp Competition and an additional prize has been kindly donated by Sioned Williams, the UKHA President.
Class 601 – United Kingdom Harp Competition
generously supported by United Kingdom Harp Association
First Round — Sunday 1 May 2022
Two contrasting pieces to be performed. Time limit 15 mins
Final — Monday 2 May 2022
Short recital programme of 1–3 pieces to be performed. Time limit 20 mins
Adjudicators: Ruth Faber and Harriet Adie
First Prize – £500 and a paid recital opportunity at the 2022 Harp On Wight Festival
Second Prize – £200 and a paid recital opportunity at the 2022 Harp On Wight Festival
Third Prize – £100
The Sioned Williams Harp Prize: £100 will be awarded to a competitor in the United Kingdom Harp Competition who has shown a particular flair for interesting programming and/or excellent presentation.
Entry Fee: £35
Harpists should be of conservatoire standard or beyond, studying or resident in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Age limit: 30 (This is the age on 1st September 2021.) This competition is open to lever and pedal harpists.
In the final entrants will find themselves adjudicated not only on the depth of their musicianship but also on how they present themselves and connect with an audience.
A spoken introduction to the musical programme is an integral part of the performance, as it forms an immediate link between the player and the listeners. The introduction should be made at the start of the programme, and announce each item and composer, as well as giving any details and points of interest about the music, or the background to the circumstances of, or reasons for, its composition. The spoken introduction need not be given from memory — notes may be used as long as they do not interfere with the sense of communication with the audience. After the spoken introduction, the programme should proceed without further announcements. Both the spoken introduction, and subsequent pacing and sequence of the programme will be taken into account in the adjudication.
If an entrant has been a pupil of the Adjudicator in the year prior to the Festival or is well-known to the Adjudicator, they should contact the Section Head before entering.
Entrants must provide the Adjudicator with a clean copy of the music for each work to be performed.
As in previous years, these competitions will be in North Bank Rooms, Muswell Hill Methodist Church .
Every entrant will receive a written adjudication sheet and a certificate of participation.
The closing date will be Friday 8 April 2022.
Download a copy of the harps syllabus – 2022 Harp Syllabus – updated 1st March 2022
Enter online via the link below or contact Keziah Thomas — email: harpsnlf@outlook.com – Closing Date – Friday 8 April
In 2021 we introduced a new system for entries and the first time that you use the new entry system, you will need to register. Please click on the link below for how to apply.
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Looking for junior categories? – click Harps
Performance Opportunity
The North London Festival has a link with the Royal Orchestral Society – www.royalorchestralsociety.org.uk – which is celebrating its 150th anniversary season in 2022/2023. As part of that celebration, there will be a ‘Rising Talent’ evening in the Duke’s Hall of the Royal Academy of Music, at 6 pm on Sunday 16th October 2022. This concert will feature performances with the orchestra by talented young and upcoming soloists and will be followed by a reception with the ROS’s Patron Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music.
ROS will offer one or two of these performance opportunities to recent winners of the Festival’s elite competitions, such as the Premiere Harp Competition. You can still be eligible to take advantage of this opportunity by entering this year’s Competition.
For details of the 2020 competition, please click on the link below.