The 2025 American Harp Society National Competition Repertoire
The American Harp Society is proud to announce the repertoire for the five divisions of the 2025 National Competition. This repertoire is also available for download here. The Competition is open to harpists up to the age of 30 who are national members of the American Harp Society and who are United States citizens or citizens of the Americas (North, Central, and South).
The 2025 Competition will be held on May 28 - June 1, 2025, at the Colburn School, Los Angeles, California, and will be livestreamed on AHS Live! Applications closed at midnight on April 1, 2025.
Due to increasing numbers of applicants, the AHS will possibly hold a recorded semi-final round.
This semi-final round will consist of a single, uncut recording of contestants’ entire competition repertoire. This recording will follow all of the same guidelines and uploading procedures as the initial recording submissions, except that contestants may not stop recording in between pieces.
Contestants will be notified by April 15 if their division requires a semi-final. The semi-final recording will be due by April 22 by midnight.
The AHS is delighted to announce that AHS National Competition judges will be awarding the Prix Renié this year. This $2,000 prize is designated for the best performance of compositions or transcriptions by Henriette Renié by a finalist in the Young Professional Division. The AHS appreciates the funding of this honor, which evolved from a 1985 bequest from AHS Board member John Hastings, by the American Harp Foundation.
AHS is grateful to our members for supporting this biannual event. Contributions may be directed to help defray the overall competition expense, or to underwrite specific prizes. Please consider a gift today in support of these young musicians.
Junior Division maximum age 12 as of June 1, 2025 |
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| J.S. Bach (Play all three) | 1. Menuet in F Major, BWV Anh. 113, |
| https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/laura-sherman/menuet-in-f-major/ (digital download) | |
| 2. Prelude 1 in C Major, BWV 924, | |
| https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/laura-sherman/prelude-1-in-c-major/ (digital download) | |
| 3. Prelude in F Major, BWV 927, | |
| https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/laura-sherman/prelude-in-f-major/ (digital download) | |
| Print versions available through Gotham Harp Publishing, https://www.busytuning.com/category/all-products | |
| Bernard Andres | Epices (pick any 3) from volume 1 and/or volume 2 |
| Grace Vamos | Palace Lake from Fountainbleau Suite |
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| Intermediate I Division maximum age 15 as of June 1, 2025 | |
| Sergiu Natra | Sonatina for Harp |
| John Bull/Marcel Grandjany | The King’s Hunt |
| Choose one: | |
| Albert Zabel | La Source op 23 (the Fountain) |
| OR | |
| Alphonse Hasselmans | La Source op 44 (the Brook or the Fountain) |
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| Intermediate II Division maximum age 18 as of June 1, 2025 | |
| Free choice | Any work by Johann Sebastian Bach (max 7 minutes) |
| Brandee Younger | Essence of Ruby |
| Choose one: | |
| Marcel Tournier | Etude de concert “Au matin” |
| OR | |
| Felix Godefroid | Etude de Concert op. 193 |
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| Advanced Division maximum age 21 as of June 1, 2025 | |
| Gabriel Faure | Impromptu, Op.86 |
| Choose one: | |
| Wilhelm Posse | Etude No. 7 from Eight Great Studies |
| OR | |
| Eric Schmidt | Etude No. 6 |
| Choose one: | |
| Germaine Tailleferre | Sonata for Harp |
| OR | |
| Paul Hindemith | Sonata for Harp |
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| Young Professional Division maximum age 30 as of June 1, 2025 | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach | Toccata and Fugue in d minor, BWV 565 (any edition) |
| Choose one: | |
| Henriette Renie | Piece Symphonique |
| OR | |
| Henriette Renie | Legende |
| Choose one: | |
| Carlos Salzedo | Variations sur un theme dans le style ancient, Op 30 |
| (Prepare a cut after Variation VII Molto piu Lento “Trills” to Variation XI Fuga to the end of the composition. Note this is different cut than the traditional one in the printed score.) | |
| OR | |
| Mikhail Mchedelov | Variations on a Theme by Paganini (without repeats) |
| OR | |
| Elias Parish Alvars | Introduction and Variations on Favorite Airs from Bellini's Opera “Norma,” Op. 36 |
| Spoken program notes will be required in the final round. Finalists will be asked to submit a program appropriate for Concert Artist recitals. | |
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A non-refundable $60 entry fee will be charged in each Division.
All entries must be received by midnight on April 1, 2025.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS. Download the required recording guidelines in advance here
Download the 2025 AHS National Competition Rules and Regulations
Online Application Form Link is available by logging into the Member Portal here. Use the "Having trouble logging in?" link or contact membership@harpsociety.org if you need assistance accessing the Portal. If you need any technical assistance with completing or submitting the form itself, please contact support@embark.com.
25th American Harp Society National Competition (2023)
The 25th National Competition was held May 31- June 4, 2023 at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, California. The biannual competition is open to harpists up to the age of 30 who are national members of the American Harp Society and who are United States citizens or citizens of the Americas (North, Central, and South). A list of all past competition winners is available here. 2023 results by division are available on Noteworthy News, and winners appear on the Emerging Artists and Concert Artist web pages.
Both the 2023 and 2021 AHS National Competition final rounds and the Winners Recital are available on the AHS YouTube channel.
Past Competitions
See the lists of every year's AHS National Competition winners
Browse the National Competition repertoire from 2001 - 2025
