NZ Harp Competition (Friday 3 April 2026)
A little background - while our governing body - Harps Aotearoa Foundation - runs annual NZ Harp Performance Competitions (video entry) we ran the first live NZ Harp Competition at Harp Fest NZ 2023.
In 2023, three new pieces were commissioned by the Harp Society of NZ (these are still available on their website) at the Grade 7/8 level.
In 2025 we are holding a NZ Composition Competition - aimed at NZ composers under the age of 30, and we pushed our promotion out into the secondary schools, hoping that our desired composition level of Grade 4/5 would be achievable by secondary school students too. We are excitedly waiting for the results of this competition - due 1 September 2025.
In the meantime, we have chosen 4 compositions by NZ composers from which the NZ Harp Competition entrants will chose their 'set piece' ... we hope to add some more compositions after 1 September 2025. But you can get a head start, if you want to, by using one of the pieces listed below. You will need to present two pieces - one of your choice and one of the set pieces by NZ composers at a Grade 4/5 level.
The NZ Harp Competition will take place at Harp Fest NZ 2026. This competition is open to NZ harpists with a discount being offered to harpists who have purchased a weekend ticket to attend Harp Fest NZ 2026. The winner will present their winning performance as part of the opening celebrations of Harp Fest NZ 2026 on Friday evening.
The competition is open to NZ harpists playing at Grade 4/5 level.
The first stage of the competition will be assessed as a video entry - date to be confirmed/details to follow.
The second stage will be an in person performance, in front of audience and judges on Good Friday 2026 (3 April) at Dilworth School, Erin Street, Newmarket, Auckland.
In 2023, three new pieces were commissioned by the Harp Society of NZ (these are still available on their website) at the Grade 7/8 level.
In 2025 we are holding a NZ Composition Competition - aimed at NZ composers under the age of 30, and we pushed our promotion out into the secondary schools, hoping that our desired composition level of Grade 4/5 would be achievable by secondary school students too. We are excitedly waiting for the results of this competition - due 1 September 2025.
In the meantime, we have chosen 4 compositions by NZ composers from which the NZ Harp Competition entrants will chose their 'set piece' ... we hope to add some more compositions after 1 September 2025. But you can get a head start, if you want to, by using one of the pieces listed below. You will need to present two pieces - one of your choice and one of the set pieces by NZ composers at a Grade 4/5 level.
The NZ Harp Competition will take place at Harp Fest NZ 2026. This competition is open to NZ harpists with a discount being offered to harpists who have purchased a weekend ticket to attend Harp Fest NZ 2026. The winner will present their winning performance as part of the opening celebrations of Harp Fest NZ 2026 on Friday evening.
The competition is open to NZ harpists playing at Grade 4/5 level.
The first stage of the competition will be assessed as a video entry - date to be confirmed/details to follow.
The second stage will be an in person performance, in front of audience and judges on Good Friday 2026 (3 April) at Dilworth School, Erin Street, Newmarket, Auckland.
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'Tresillo'
by Anna Christensen |
Audio only at present, video to follow.....
'Always There'
by Anna Dunwoodie |
'Moon Petals'
by Carolyn Mills |
'Catching Fish Under the Bridge'
by Michelle Velvin |
Click on the composer's name for the link to their email to purchase the music.
Check back in December for a video of each of these compositions.
Check back in December for a video of each of these compositions.
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''Yume no Kaze/Wind of a Dream'
by Yulara Oike |
You will need to have an original copy of the music to perform it at the NZ Harp Competition - as these NZ compositions are all only available as PDFs, please retain your receipt as proof of purchase, and present it with the music. You will be required to present a copy of your choice of music for the judges, and you must be performing from the original book/PDF (with receipt).
Harps Aotearoa Foundation and Harp Fest NZ are strong supporters of the creativity of our composers and any breach of the copyright laws will deem a harpist ineligible for the competition.
