—by Natalie Hoffmann

Gold Mine

Once the warm days of summer set in, most college towns are quiet and deserted. But for 11 days this past June, Bloomington, Ind., came alive as the epicenter of the harp world when 40 talented young harpists from 16 countries gathered at Indiana University to compete in the 10th USA International Harp Competition (IHC).

We asked Competition Coordinator Natalie Hoffman to give us a glimpse behind the scenes at one of the world’s most prestigious competitions. Hoffman blogged almost daily on harpcolumn.com about the results on stage and the insights off stage from the USA. We’ve put together some highlights to give you a taste of those two weeks in Bloomington.

Harp Dreams

A Bloomington-based public television station produced a documentary titled Harp Dreams that followed contestants through the 2010 USA IHC. The documentary’s title, perhaps a nod to the acclaimed 1994 sports documentary Hoop Dreams that followed several promising young basketball players, captures some of the spirit of the competition. Winning the gold can certainly launch a career. But the dreams of these contestants extend far beyond the awards ceremony in Bloomington.

“I plan to start orchestra auditions and maybe do another competition, I’ll see. Today, it’s Bloomington. I have a few ideas in my head, but I will think about it after the competition.” —Louise Ollivier, France

“I’d like to be a solo composer for the harp. I have already written some pieces for harp, and I dream about my solo recital, where I will play both classical pieces and my own compositions.” —Maria Mikhaylovskaya, Russia

“I want to be a professional orchestral harpist first and foremost because I’ve never had so much joy performing in any setting than with a whole group of musicians behind my back! The sound is unmatched. I also want to teach because I enjoy and value sharing what I know!” —Melanie Mashner, USA

“I want to try to play for a larger public to help people discover harp music and to make them more sensible about the harp even though they aren’t familiar withw the instrument.” —Héloïse de Jenlis, France

“I’ll try other competitions. I think it will be easier because I already have a big repertoire thanks to the USA IHC” —Valerio Lisci, Italy

“I’d love to start a chamber group and commission new works.” —Shelly Du, China

“I’m entering my first year as a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with plans to apply for university teaching positions after I graduate. I am passionate about teaching and education advocacy for young children with special needs, so I hope to pursue a career related to those interests.” —Noël Wan, Taiwan

Mountain of Music

This competition is grueling. Its four stages of demanding repertoire are as much a test of endurance as they are of artistry. The first stage requires three pieces, stage two requires four pieces, stage three is a 45-minutes recital with two required pieces included in the recital time, and the final stage is a full concerto performed with orchestral accompaniment. In total, that’s more than two hours of music. Oh, and it all has to be memorized, with the exception of the required winning composition contest work. So how on earth do these harpists master all of that music?

“I started early and made lots of short-term goals. I also was sure to create plenty of performance opportunities. I played at nursing homes, concert halls, classrooms, churches, and house recitals! It was vital towards becoming comfortable with all the music.”

Rachel Hall, USA

“In my opinion, if you take time to learn the repertoire, it is not so difficult to prepare for this competition. I think it is better to work on the pieces for enough time before the start of the competition because the pieces need to grow.” —Antonella de Franco, Italy

“I started preparing for this competition as soon as there was a repertoire list, so that was two years ago. Some of the pieces I already knew, like Salzedo’s Scintillation. Some took quite a while to learn. I tried to learn everything before the new piece (Sublimation) arrived and then focused on learning that piece when it was announced.” —Valeria Voshchennikova, Russia

“I took it one step at a time and made sure I was maintaining and performing the repertoire I already knew as I learned new pieces.” —Naomi Hoffmeyer, USA

“I was preparing my final recital at the same time so I could play the pieces that were set repertoire for the competition. I started about two years in advance so I had enough time to learn.” —Klara Woskowiak, Poland

“It’s very important to work well piece by piece and not altogether. I prepared all the pieces a long time ago, so I’ve had the time to let the repertoire grow.”  —Valerio Lisci, Italy

“I had lessons and masterclasses with different teachers on the repertoire, particularly the pieces I didn’t know as well. I also was able to perform each of the stages in recitals, at school, as well as concerts at home.” —Abigail Kent, USA

Stress Test

Coping with the stress and nerves of performing is one of the toughest obstacles to overcome at a high-level competition. During the USA IHC, the performers play for an elite jury of seven, plus a public audience. The pool of contestants is cut dramatically at each stage, so the bar is high and competition fierce for a spot in the next round. The first stage begins with 40 competitors; the second stage is cut to 20 competitors; the third stage has only eight harpists; and just three compete in the fourth and final stage. The competitors have worked for more than two years on these pieces, and they have one shot to play as best they can. That is a lot of pressure! So how do the competitors cope with this stress?

“I think most of the competition stress is mental fixation, so I try to just stay relaxed and calm throughout the whole process.” —Noël Wan, Taiwan

“I try not to think that I am in a competition. Instead, I just think of giving a recital. I just focus on my music and the progress that I am making while preparing for a competition this big. Also, I have my friends who are there to support me whenever I go crazy!” —Olivia Kim, USA

“I remind myself that I chose to do this and it should be!” —Hannah Cope Johnson, USA

“This is especially difficult. It is important for me to focus on the music, performing well and being happy with my playing rather than focusing on the outcome as this can cause a lot of stress.” —Catherine Derrick, United Kingdom

“I eat sweets!” —Ritsuko Arima, Japan

Ask Yourself Why

The USA IHC is the largest harp competition in the world today, and this year the competition saw its biggest pool of applicants—68 harpists initially applied. So, what’s the big draw? What makes this competition stand above the rest? Why do so many harpists spend two years of their lives preparing for this contest?

In the May/June 2016 issue of Harp Column, I had the honor of interviewing my current teacher and the founder of the USA IHC, Susann McDonald. When asked why she thought there was a record number of applicants this year, McDonald said she believes the wide variety of repertoire was a major attraction. This year the repertoire is not only from different schools of harp playing, but also repertoire that is excellent for concertizing.

Another obvious attraction is the first place prizes, which this year includes a Lyon & Healy harp of the winner’s choice, valued at $55,000, a debut recital at Lyon & Healy, a CD recording, a recital in Hong Kong, a five-city concert tour in China, and $5,000 in prize money. That’s a pretty tempting haul.

“I enjoy the challenge of learning large amounts of repertoire, and I had wanted to learn a lot of the pieces on the USA IHC 2016 set repertoire for some time. Preparing for such a renowned competition also pushes you in so many ways, whatever it be in terms of memory, stamina, discipline, or mental strength.”—Elizabeth Bass, United Kingdom

“I decided to try for this competition since I was 10 years old. I always saw the older harpists of my class preparing for it, and I decided that one day I would try. I think that we all prepare for this competition in order to know where we could arrive, what we are able to do, and to surpass what we think are our capacities and abilities.” —Arianna Rossi, Italy

“I decided to participate in the 2016 USA IHC because it is the most difficult and interesting competition. Also, I have never participated in any competition with four stages. For me, it’s a good way to check my professional abilities, to show myself as a harpist, and to make new friendships and connections.” —Maria Mikhaylovskaya, Russia

“It was always my dream to compete in the USA IHC. Now that I’m grown up, I realize that it’s a great way to push my limits and improve myself. Also, I still don’t have a good instrument of my own, so winning a harp would be a dream come true.” —Aisté Baliunyté, Lithuania

“I think preparing for a competition such as this is a wonderful way to raise the bar of my own playing. I’m in a place in my development where a challenge like this will definitely be beneficial no matter the outcome, and feel really fortunate to have the opportunity.” —Shelly Du, China

Homecoming

Just a few days after the competition finals, Bloomington returns to its sleepy summer style. The 40 contestants return to their homes around the world to continue chasing their harp dreams. Though only one of them left with the top prize, the experience of having competed during those two weeks on the harp world’s biggest stage is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.