Arpamex

Menú

Mexico International Harp Competition and Festival

Mexico City

The VII Mexico International Harp Competition and Festival is pleased to announce the repertoire and requirements

The Mexico International Harp Competition and Festival, founded in 2006 by harpist Baltazar Juárez, has established itself as the most important harp event in Latin America and has become an international benchmark. With firm conviction, it has sought to guide children and young people on a competitive path, contributing to their flourishing as classical harpists within the demanding international parameters.

This fervent process has been a key piece for the formation of generations of harpists in Mexico and stimulates the careers of gifted harpist worldwide. 

Aimed to young harpists of high artistic performance, it offers them the opportunity to perform their repertoire before a specialist Jury constituted of outstanding personalities in the international arena.

General Rules

  1. The contest is open to harpists of all nationalities.
  2. A non-refundable registration fee must be paid in each Division.
  3. All applications must be received by June 30, 2026. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
  4. Contestants will be notified of their admission to the contest no later than July 3, 2026.
  5. The winners of the first places of the previous Contest, may only register to participate in this 2026 edition in an upper division to the one they were awarded.
  6. Only Lyon & Healy and Salvi harps will be used for the Competition, individual practice time are provided to active contestants. Participants may use their personal instruments at their own liability and cost.
  7. At the Opening Ceremony, contestants will draw lots to determine the order in which they will perform. This order of performance will be used throughout all stages of the competition.
  1. After the Opening Ceremony, jurors may not have contact with active contestants. This precludes attendance at practice sessions, email or text messages, phone conversations and any orchestral rehearsal for the final stage. Likewise, professors and tutors of the contestants will not be able to attend the ensemble or orchestra rehearsals for the semifinal and final phase.
  2. All works must be performed by memory and without repetitions unless indicated.
  3. The Jury will be formed of prominent personalities in the musical field and its decision will be final.
  4. The Competition reserves the right to record and film all Competition Stages and Concerts for radio, television, and web streaming.
  5. The announcement of all prize winners and distribution of prizes will take place during a Special Contest Closing Ceremony, after the deliberations of the jury.

General Procedures

  • The Competition is open to harpists of all nationalities who have not passed their 37th birthday by October 1, 2026.
 
  • The Contest requires a level of excellence in the execution of the instrument, for which the participants will be evaluated as young artist, considering musicality, technique, and artistic performance.
 

  • The VII Mexico International Harp Competition and Festival will take place October 18-25, 2026 in Mexico City.

  • All stages of the competition are open to the public.

Application Requirements:

IN A SINGLE EMAIL, applicants must submit the following documents no later than June 30, 2026, to the following email address:
mexihcf@gmail.com
Registration form

1. Registration form.

2. As a PDF, photocopy of your birth certificate or passport.

3. As a PDF, two letters of recommendation from musical authorities, one of them most be from the applicant’s teacher recommending participation in the VII Mexico International Harp Competition and Festival 2026.

4. Two publicity photographs suitable for reproduction.

5. List of the repertoire to be performed at the contest and physical photocopies (the photocopies will be given to the competition the day of the registration).

6. Entry fee (attach payment receipt):

Young Professional Division y Advanced Division: $ 200.00 dolls.
Intermediate Division y Junior Division: $ 150.00 dolls.
And most deposite to: Fundación Parish Alvars AC
Account number: 0452551105
CLABE: 072 180 00452551105 4 

Or via Paypal: mexihcf

Click here to donate

Repertoire

All works must be performed by memory without repetitions unless stated.

JUNIOR DIVISION (Maximum age 15 years on October 1, 2026)

First Stage
1- Choose one:
A. Istorietta         Alphonse Hasselmans (1845-1912)
Trois Petites Bluettes pour la harpe
B. Ländler
Trois Petites Bluettes pour la harpe

2- Choose one:
A. Minuet in G major Nº 7       Allegretto Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Bach for Early Grades Book I, compiled from the Note-Book of Anna Magdalene Bach
B. Minuet in G major N°10 Animato
Bach for Early Grades Book I, compiled from the Note-Book of Anna Magdalene Bach

With repetitions

3. Free choice piece 2-4 minutes

Final
1- Mexican piece to be announced
2- Free choice piece 2-4 minutes

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION (Maximum age 20 years on October 1, 2026)

First Stage
1- Una Noche         Alfredo Rolando Ortíz (1946)

With repetitions

2- Choose one Sonata:
Sept Sonatas Progresivas Op 92                     Francois-Joseph Naderman (1781-1835)

Semifinal
1- Choose one:
A. Aire Criollo N° 2        Julián Aguirre (1868-1924)
From the book “La Colección Aguirre by Prof. Oscar Rodríguez Do Campo”
B. Aire Criollo N° 3
From the book “La Colección Aguirre by Prof. Oscar Rodríguez Do Campo”
2- Free choice piece 2-5 minutes

Final
1- Mexican piece to be announced
2- Free choice piece 2-5 minutes

ADVANCED DIVISION (Maximum age 25 years on October 1, 2026)

First Stage
1- Nocturne                 Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857)
2- Choose one:
A. Venezolana #3      Alfredo Rolando Ortíz
(1946)
B. Iguazú                      Alfredo Rolando Ortíz (1946)
F. Niagara Moon        Alfredo Rolando Ortíz
(1946)

With repetitions

3- Free choice piece 5-8 minutes

Semifinal
Free choice recital 25-30 minutes including the following piece:
One piece from composer Mario Ruiz Armengol (1914-2002)

Final
Concerto for Harp and Flute in C Major K. 299 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL DIVISION (Maximum age 37 years on October 1, 2026)

First Stage
1- Choose one:
A. Carnaval de Venise          Felix Godefroid (1818-
1897)
B. Introduction and Variations on Favorite Airs from Bellini’s Opera “Norma”
Elias Parish Alvars (1808-
1849)
C. Variations sur un thème dans le style ancien Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961)

Con el corte tradicional indicado en la partitura impresa

2- Zarabanda y Son             Arturo Márquez (1950)

3-Free choice piece 7-12 minutes

Semifinal
Free choice recital 30-35 minutes including the following piece:
Choose one:
A. Triste N°3                    Julián Aguirre (1868-1924)
From the book “La Colección Aguirre by Prof. Oscar Rodríguez Do Campo”
B. Huella                          Julián Aguirre (1868-
1924)
From the book “La Colección Aguirre by Prof. Oscar Rodríguez Do Campo”

Final
1- Concerto for Harp and Orquesta Op. 25   Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)

2- Mexican piece to be announced

It will be performed with Mexico National Symphony Orchestra in the Fine Arts Palace

Prizes

Young Professional Division

1st Prize $ Will be announced
- Solo Concert with the Mexico National Symphony Orchestra right after the Competition. - Solo Recital in the next MIHCF.
2nd Prize $ 1,100.00 US dolls.
3rd Prize $ 900.00 US dolls.

Advanced Division

1st Prize $ Will be announced

2nd Prize $ 900.00 US dolls.

3rd Prize $ 700.00 US dolls.

Intermediate Division

1st Prize $ Will be announced

2nd Prize $ 700.00 US dolls.

3rd Prize $ 500.00 US dolls.

Junior Division

1st Prize $ Will be announced

2nd Prize $ 500.00 US dolls.

3rd Prize $ 400.00 US dolls.

For more information email mexihcf@gmail.com