Laura Logan Brandenburg & Kela Walton, Co-Chairs
San Jose Youth Symphony Harp Ensemble ~ Summer Institute 2023The purpose of the American Harp Society Ensemble Festival is to encourage musical collaboration, the building of community through harp ensembles, and to inspire harpists of all ages and levels to advance their ensemble performance skills. The AHS Ensemble Festival offers the unique opportunity for harp ensembles to perform their program for a live audience, and to receive valuable feedback and ratings from preeminent harpists and adjudicators.
AHS Harp Ensemble Festival participants will have the opportunity to:
The Festival is divided into six (6) Divisions:
Ensembles in each Division may participate in one or more of the following five (5) Categories:
Applications open on November 15, 2024 and are due by February 1, 2027.
Entry fees are due by March 1, 2027. Entry fees are non-refundable.
All programs are free choice. Each program must include at least one work originally composed for harp ensemble. Transcriptions will not count as works that are ‘originally composed’ for harp ensemble.
Ensembles will perform once before a panel of adjudicators and live audience in the division and category in which they are registered.
Ensembles will receive written comments on their performance as well as ratings.
Ratings shall be awarded as follows: I (Superior), II (Excellent), & III (Good).
Ratings will be based on precision of ensemble playing, blend of sound, quality of articulation and tone, ensemble intonation, and musical interpretation of the score.
The performance of the ensemble shall be the only factor considered when determining ratings. Ensembles will not receive rankings (first, second, third place, etc.) within a division or category.
Multiple ensembles can earn the same rating within the same division and category.
Participants in any Division may elect to receive written comments only, with no rating. In doing so, that ensemble will not be eligible for Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award consideration.
The Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award represents the attainment of superior musicianship by an ensemble as demonstrated in their performance at the AHS Ensemble Festival. Within each division and category, Outstanding Ensemble Performance Awards may be conferred at the discretion of the adjudicators. Ensembles receiving the Outstanding Performance Award will be invited to perform at the Closing Concert and Ceremony without remuneration. Excused absence from this performance must be requested in advance.
A complete list of rules and regulations may be downloaded here. A PDF of this announcement page is also available.
