Harpists vie for top prize

IU's School of Music hosts the largest harp department in the world. It's been said there are more harps in Bloomington than in most small nations. So it's only fitting that every three years, the "Harp Olympics" come to Bloomington.\nThe School of Music is once again playing host to the USA International Harp Competition, a 12-day event that has brought 38 young harpists, ages 16 - 32, to the IU campus to compete for the prestige and prizes that the contest brings. It's a truly international event, with participants coming from 16 different countries and an eight-person jury from six different countries.\nIt's a high pressure event for the participants, and a unique chance for music fans to hear an amazing amount and variety of harp music.\n"These aren't students -- it's more like athletes in the Olympics," said Susan Lyon, public relations director for the event. "These people have been practicing for years, and this is the culmination of their hopes and dreams."\nThe event brings considerable esteem to the winner, as well as a stunning array of prizes. The first prize winner will take home a hand-carved, $55,000 24-karat gold-gilded harp. It was made by Chicago harp makers Lyon & Healy, and donated by the Victor Salvi Foundation. Additionally, the winning harpist will have the opportunity to give recitals in London, New York's Lincoln Center, Paris, and Japan, as well as make a CD recording and receive $5,000 cash.\nBut it's a long way to go from Wednesday afternoon's opening ceremonies to the grand prize. Lots were drawn at the opening to determine the order of performance, and the judged performances begin this morning at 10 a.m. Three elimination rounds follow, leading up to the Grande Finale concert and presentation of prizes Sunday, July 15.\nIn addition to the competitors' performances, four special solo performances by non-competitors will be held that will showcase the sheer stylistic variety of music that the harp has to offer. Performers include 1998 IHC Gold Medal winner Xavier de Maistre, now the Principal Harpist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, 14-year-old harpist Jane Yoon, jazz harpist Park Stickney, and Chinese folk harpist Cui Jun Zhi.\nThe participants began flying in this week, and were still arriving Wednesday afternoon. As they arrive, a network of local volunteers are making sure that the performers, many of whom are traveling from outside the United States, are as comfortable as possible.\n"They're nervous about the competition. Our priority is to give them as much comfort as they deserve," said Kinga Ferguson, an Administrative Assistant for the Competition who has been helping coordinate the hospitality effort.\n"Some of them don't speak English, so it's quite hard. They were really touched by the host families' hospitality," she said.\nThe volunteers include a transportation team that shuttles the harpists and their traveling companions from the airport to Bloomington. Once they arrive, many are staying with local host families that will accommodate them during their stay. One such dedicated volunteer is Nancy Miller. \nDuring her first year of involvement with the IHC, she's had her hands full, matching host families with the 13 competitors who needed them, as well as hosting a harpist from France and Japan herself.\n"I'm jumping right in," she laughed as she prepared a 4th of July lunch for her international guests.\nThe first USA International Harp Competition took place in 1989, and has been held in Bloomington every three years since. It was founded by IU Distinguished Professor of Music Susann McDonald, chair of the IU Bloomington Harp Department since 1981 and current Artistic Director of the competition. Since its founding, the IHC has become one of only six U.S.-based competitions to be accepted into the World Federation of International Music Competitions.\nFor more information call (812) 856-5715 or visit www.indiana.edu/~harpcomp.