NZ Harp Performance Competition - a bit of background
How did the Harp Performance Competition come about?
In 2014, I played a the funeral of my harp teacher's husband, and when I declined payment, she popped a substantial amount of $$ in to the NZ Harp Society account and asked me to use it in a way to benefit many harpists. So the idea developed, of a competition where everyone video recorded their performance - anywhere in NZ - and submit it online. We developed criteria and parameters, and after the first year, we then developed marking rubrics to bring the marks in line, and a you tube channel to show off the fabulous work the harpists were doing. Not only are they working so hard to get the best performance they can, they are helping to create a repository of harp music, and generally well known tunes, for other student harpists to draw on for inspiration.
We have hugely benefitted from a diverse panel of judges over the years - NZ harpists and teachers - Carolyn Mills, Rebecca Harris, Helen Webby, Therese Wundrow, Yi Jin, Michelle Velvin, Ingrid Bauer, Tiffany Baker, Margaret Leman, Ina Yoon, Annamieka Harmonie, Anna Christensen, Gustavo Beaklini and international harpists - Elizabeth Volpe Bligh, Alex Rider, Amanda Whiting, Rachel Hair, Maeve Gilchrist, Keziah Thomas, Emma Graham, Suneetha Carter, Esther Swift and Deborah Henson Conant.
We have also benefitted hugely from our generous sponsors who sponsor the prizes in each class - Kim Webby Harp Maker, Harps of the South, Matariki Practice, Therapy Harp Training Programme, Harpitree, KBB Music, Carter Harps Australia, Derek and Margaret Neutze, Raewynn Robertson, Geraldine Dunwoodie, Rhiannon Swift, Pam Gordon, Jo Ying Huang, Maria Oxnam, Carolyn Mills, Jac Field, The NZ Harp Society.
In 2020 the Holiday Music Competition was introduced, as was 'the people's choice' voting in some areas of the competitions. This encourages members of the NZ Harp community to engage in the presentations and vote for their personal favourite performance, which means we have even more people enjoying these talented harpists' performances.
In February 2021, The Wings Club took over the raising of funds to sponsor the NZ Harp Performance Competition, and
in August 2022 The Wings Club was tucked under the umbrella of Harps Aotearoa Foundation which now oversees the Harp Performance Competitions as well as Harp Fest NZ 2023.
In 2014, I played a the funeral of my harp teacher's husband, and when I declined payment, she popped a substantial amount of $$ in to the NZ Harp Society account and asked me to use it in a way to benefit many harpists. So the idea developed, of a competition where everyone video recorded their performance - anywhere in NZ - and submit it online. We developed criteria and parameters, and after the first year, we then developed marking rubrics to bring the marks in line, and a you tube channel to show off the fabulous work the harpists were doing. Not only are they working so hard to get the best performance they can, they are helping to create a repository of harp music, and generally well known tunes, for other student harpists to draw on for inspiration.
We have hugely benefitted from a diverse panel of judges over the years - NZ harpists and teachers - Carolyn Mills, Rebecca Harris, Helen Webby, Therese Wundrow, Yi Jin, Michelle Velvin, Ingrid Bauer, Tiffany Baker, Margaret Leman, Ina Yoon, Annamieka Harmonie, Anna Christensen, Gustavo Beaklini and international harpists - Elizabeth Volpe Bligh, Alex Rider, Amanda Whiting, Rachel Hair, Maeve Gilchrist, Keziah Thomas, Emma Graham, Suneetha Carter, Esther Swift and Deborah Henson Conant.
We have also benefitted hugely from our generous sponsors who sponsor the prizes in each class - Kim Webby Harp Maker, Harps of the South, Matariki Practice, Therapy Harp Training Programme, Harpitree, KBB Music, Carter Harps Australia, Derek and Margaret Neutze, Raewynn Robertson, Geraldine Dunwoodie, Rhiannon Swift, Pam Gordon, Jo Ying Huang, Maria Oxnam, Carolyn Mills, Jac Field, The NZ Harp Society.
In 2020 the Holiday Music Competition was introduced, as was 'the people's choice' voting in some areas of the competitions. This encourages members of the NZ Harp community to engage in the presentations and vote for their personal favourite performance, which means we have even more people enjoying these talented harpists' performances.
In February 2021, The Wings Club took over the raising of funds to sponsor the NZ Harp Performance Competition, and
in August 2022 The Wings Club was tucked under the umbrella of Harps Aotearoa Foundation which now oversees the Harp Performance Competitions as well as Harp Fest NZ 2023.