The International Alphonse Hasselmans Harp Competition is dedicated to the memory of Alphonse Hasselmans (1845–1912), the legendary French harpist and pedagogue whose teaching legacy continues to shape the art of harp playing worldwide. This competition seeks to honour his spirit by nurturing exceptional harpists at all stages of development. The competition is conducted entirely online through video submission, removing all geographical barriers and providing a global platform for harpists of every background.

02 Eligibility

The competition is open to harpists of all nationalities worldwide, regardless of place of residence.
Participants may play pedal harp or lever harp. The instrument type must be stated at the time of registration and cannot be changed after submission.
Professional or amateur status does not affect eligibility. There is no restriction on the number of students from the same teacher or institution.
Each participant may enter only one category per edition.

03 Categories

Age eligibility is determined by the participant’s age on the application deadline date. Participants must fall within the age range of their chosen category.

Category A · Age 7–9

Beginning harp students developing basic technique, rhythm, and musical awareness.

Category B · Age 10–14

Young performers strengthening technical control, tone production, and fundamental musical interpretation.

Category C · Age 15–20

Intermediate to advanced students demonstrating growing artistic expression and expanding repertoire.

Category D · Age 21–26

Pre-professional performers with solid technical mastery and mature musical interpretation.

Category E · Age 27–35

Advanced artists presenting professional-level performance with refined artistry and stylistic understanding.

Category F · Ensemble

2–4 players

Harp ensembles including duos, trios, or quartets. At least one participant must perform on harp.

04 Competition Format

This is a single-round, fully online competition. There are no semi-finals or finals. Participants are required to submit a video link during the submission period; the jury will evaluate all entries and determine the results based solely on that single submission.
Each participant submits a single video link per entry. No live performances, auditions, or additional rounds are required.
Results are announced on the official competition website and communicated to all participants by email. Digital certificates are issued electronically within 21 days of the results announcement.

05 Repertoire Requirements

All repertoire must be performed from memory unless otherwise stated below. Scores may be used only where explicitly indicated.
The jury may deduct points if the stated time limit is exceeded by more than two minutes.
All repertoire must be submitted at the time of registration and may not be changed after submission.

Category A · Ages 7–9

One or two works of the participant’s choice, total duration 3–6 minutes.

Category B · Ages 10–14

One or two works of the participant’s choice, total duration 5–10 minutes.

Category C · Ages 15–20

One or two works of the participant’s choice, total duration 8–15 minutes.

Category D · Ages 21–26

One or two works of the participant’s choice, total duration 12–20 minutes.

Category E · Ages 27–35

One or two works of the participant’s choice, total duration 15–25 minutes.

Category F · Ensemble (2–4 players)

One or two ensemble works of the participants’ choice, total duration 6–15 minutes.

All performers must be clearly visible in the video recording. The use of sheet music is permitted.

06 Submission Guidelines

Single unedited take: Each submitted programme must be recorded in a single continuous, unedited take. No cuts, splices, speed alterations, or audio replacement of any kind are permitted. Short pauses and transitions between pieces are allowed.
No AI manipulation: The use of artificial intelligence to alter, enhance, or reconstruct any aspect of the audio or video recording is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.
Camera and lighting: The camera must remain in a fixed position throughout. The performance space must be well lit so the jury can clearly observe hand position and technique.
Audio: Must be recorded in a quiet environment and synchronised with the video. Basic level normalisation is the only permitted post-processing.
Deadline: All submissions must be completed before the stated deadline date. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

07 Jury & Judging Criteria

The jury comprises internationally recognised harpists, pedagogues, and music scholars appointed by the Artistic Committee.
Jury members may not evaluate a participant who is their current or former student (within the past five years), or with whom they have a familial or financial relationship.
Jury members may not discuss scores or outcomes with participants or the public at any time.
The decision of the jury is final and binding. No correspondence regarding jury decisions will be entered into.

Judging Criteria

Technical proficiency — accuracy, evenness of tone, pedal/lever technique, dynamic control, clarity of articulation.
Musical interpretation — stylistic awareness, phrasing, expression, and architectural coherence of the musical narrative.
Tone quality — richness, consistency, and variety of sound across the dynamic and register range.
Artistic presentation — musical personality, confidence, communication of character and mood, and overall artistic impact.

08 Scoring System

Below 75 / 100

Certificate of Participation

Digital Certificate

10 Entry Procedure & Key Dates

1. Registration Opens

Participants may submit their application on any day before the registration deadline.

2. Registration, Payment & Submission

All registration details, entry fee payments, and video links must be submitted and completed before the deadline. After the deadline, no changes to category or repertoire are permitted.

3. Jury Evaluation Period

All submissions are independently reviewed by the jury panel. The evaluation period is approximately 4–6 weeks, depending on the number of entries.

4. Results Announcement

Final results will be published on the official competition website. All participants will be notified by email.

5. Digital Certificates Issued

PDF certificates will be issued and sent by email within 21 days after the results announcement.

6. Fees & General Information

Entry fees are as follows:
Category A €40 · Category B €60 · Category C €80 · Category D €100 · Category E €100 · Category F(per ensemble) €100.

All entry fees are non-refundable.

11 Code of Conduct

All participants and representatives are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism and mutual respect at all times.
Any attempt to contact jury members regarding scores or evaluations will result in immediate disqualification.
Fraudulent submissions — including recordings by another person, AI-manipulated audio or video, or false declarations of age or identity — result in disqualification and a permanent ban from future editions.
The competition does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

12 General Provisions

By registering, participants grant the competition a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use submitted recordings for promotional, archival, and educational purposes.
The competition reserves the right to cancel an edition if insufficient entries are received, in which case entry fees will be refunded in full.
The organisers reserve the right to amend the competition rules at any time. Any revisions will be highlighted in red in the updated version published on the official website.
Any disputes arising from these rules shall be resolved by the Organising Committee, whose decision shall be final.