Frequently Asked Questions

When and how can I apply and submit my composition? 
The online application form will be available January 15, 2024. Submissions will be accepted through September 10, 2024 and a harpist recording of your work must be submitted by October 10, 2024. 

When and where will the winner be announced? 
December 15, 2024, on www.usaihc.org

Is this contest open to composers from every country?
Yes!

Is there an age limit?
No! 

Where do I find more information about the harp?
Writing for the Pedal Harp by Ruth K. Inglefield & Lou Anne Neill (available at www.vanderbiltmusic.com) gives many specific details including notational procedures and necessary technical information.

Is there a specific format for the size of my score?
Yes! The publisher requires that the score be formatted at 8.5" x 11" with a 1/2" minimum margin-- portrait preferred-- and the note size should be comfortably legible when seated at the harp, approximately three feet away.

What if my piece is a little shorter or a little longer than the required duration (6-8 minutes)?
If it is much longer than 8 minutes, it will be disqualified.  Recordings that are slightly longer, because they are not at full tempo, will be considered. Works shorter than 6 minutes will be disqualified. Your safest approach would be to aim a little lower than 8 minutes. 

Are there any other reasons for disqualification?
All scores received will be reviewed in an initial screening round. Works that do not follow the contest rules will not be passed on to the jury. Works that are too easy or truly unplayable will not be passed on. (Your recording harpist should be able to advise you on the level.) Since the winning composition will become part of the required repertoire for a major international performance competition, we do expect a high level in terms of both substance and proficiency required of the performer.

May I submit individual movements of a larger work?
Yes-- if the individual movements are intended to be played as separate pieces, AND if you would accept that only the movement(s) submitted end up being published. In this case, you should submit only the chosen portion.

May I include electronics?
Yes-- however, there are two considerations. 1. The harpist must be able to run the electronics themselves, without needing a second person. 2. The equipment used must be inexpensive, portable, and readily available. Harpists from around the world should be able to prepare the piece without needing to buy expensive hardware or software. Otherwise, you might consider making the electronics optional. Electronics must be universally available and may incorporate a pre-recorded track or app.

Do you want a specific format or program (Finale, Sibelius) used to prepare the score?
The winning composition will be published exactly as submitted– should you win the competition, you will be asked to send immediately an identical PDF of the score with your name on it. The program used to make the PDF should not matter.

May I submit a handwritten score?
No! However, occasional exceptions may be made for graphic or otherwise non-traditional notation. If this is the case, please consult the Contest Director well ahead of the submission deadline.

May I submit a MIDI or digitally sampled recording?
No MIDI or digital samples will be accepted!  The recording can be of a live performance, or an under-tempo read-through, but it MUST be played by a harpist.

What if I can’t find a harpist?
Harpists around the world are aware of our competition and are willing to help. If you are having difficulty, contact your closest music conservatory/school or symphony orchestra.  If you live in a country where there is currently no working harpist, you may find one in a neighboring country who can be of assistance.  If all else fails, contact the Composition Contest Director for further assistance far in advance. Last minute requests for assistance will not be possible.

Is the recording mandatory?
Yes! Your work will be disqualified without a recording.

How can I send a recording if the work has to be “unrecorded?”
The contest rule says, “not recorded for commercial distribution” – in other words, not released for sale on an album. The recording you send may be made at home, in a studio, or taken from a live recording of a concert.

How high does the quality of the recording need to be?
You should plan to submit the best possible recording. However, not everyone has access to harpists, harps, and recording equipment of equal quality-- the jury understands this and takes it into consideration.

What does it mean that my score cannot be available for purchase anywhere?
Your score should not be for sale in any stores or on any websites– this includes online music retailers and your own personal website.

Why are there two different submission dates?
This is to allow your harpist more time to prepare a recording. In the past, some composers have waited too long to find a harpist. We STRONGLY encourage you to identify a performer far in advance, and work with that individual throughout the compositional process.

Can I write for prepared harp?
Yes - as long as the materials used to prepare the instrument are readily available everywhere.

What does “other instruments welcome if played by the harpist” mean?
Additional instruments may be integrated into the composition, but cannot require additional personnel.  An example is a passage where the harpist plays with one hand on the strings while the other hand plays bongos, a bell tree, etc. – or where additional instruments were used to produce sounds on the harp, as in scraping the wire strings with a small cymbal or using a bow on the bottom string.

I am a harpist as well as a composer.  I plan to enter the composition contest and to apply for admission to the performance competition.  Is this allowed?
Yes! However, if your composition wins, you will not be eligible to win the prize for best performance of the winning composition.

Can my composition be recorded by a harpist who applies to participate in the performance competition?
Yes! However, if your composition wins, the harpist will not be eligible to win the prize for best performance of the winning composition, since they will have had the music long before the other contestants.

May I enter more than one work?
Yes, with separate applications for each.

Why do I need to submit a biography?
If your piece wins, the short bio you submit will appear in the USAIHC Composition Contest announcement and in the USAIHC Harp Competition program book. The contest jury does not see your biography.

What exactly do you mean by “anonymous PDF” of the score?
Only the Composition Contest Secretary will know which score is yours, not the jury. Please follow the exact procedures described to ensure that she will have accurate information, while the jury will be able to judge without knowing who has composed any of the works.

Can I take an existing piece and arrange it for harp?
That depends on how much "arranging" you do.  If you choose a famous opera aria and compose a set of virtuoso variations around that theme, the answer would likely be yes-- the intent here is really "composition" rather than "arranging."

How many jury members are there?  Are any composers included on the jury?
The jury is composed of 7-9 members.  At least one of these is a composer; the others are professional harpists from around the world.

Will I be able to receive feedback about my composition from the jury?
No.

Other questions not answered here may be sent to Sonja Inglefield, USAIHC Ruth Inglefield Composition Contest Director at director.RICC@gmail.com.