Woojin Lee, Renée Murphy Appointments

July 1, 2025

Two winners of the 13th USA International Harp Competition— Woojin Lee (4th Prize) and Renée Murphy (5th Prize)— each followed their stunning achievements at the Competition this May with more dazzling musical honors.

On May 31, the American Harp Society announced that Renée Murphy won 1st Prize in the AHS National Competition's Young Professional Division. This accomplishment cements Reneé as the American Harp Society Concert Artist for 2025-2027, an honor which will bring her around the country to give concerts, masterclasses, and workshops.

Reneé’s performance at the AHS National Competition included many of the pieces with which she competed in the USA International Harp Competition a week prior, including Henriette Renié’s Pièce Symphonique, J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, and Elias Parish-Alvars’s Introduction and Variations on Themes from Bellini’s Opera “Norma.”

The USAIHC 5th Prize Winner and AHS Concert Artist said the following about her experience with the two demanding competitions: “Even though I felt somewhat fatigued after an intense and exhilarating week at the USAIHC, having just performed these pieces helped to guide my final preparations for the AHS competition. I became more aware of how I responded to mental and physical fatigue and began learning how to find focus and reconnect with what I loved most about each piece. Sharing these special works with different audiences brought me such joy and deepened my gratitude for my life as a musician.”

Congratulations, Renée, on your hard-earned wins at both of these renowned competitions!

On June 23, Woojin Lee announced via an Instagram post her appointment as Principal Harpist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Woojin shared that not only was this her first orchestral audition, but the panel (including a surprise guest, USAIHC Associate Artistic Director Emmanuel Ceysson) was in unanimous agreement for her appointment.

Woojin shared an in-depth look at how the USA International Harp Competition played a role in her appointment with the Hong Kong Philharmonic:

“The USA International Harp Competition has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my musical journey. I participated three times (in 2016, 2019, and 2025) and over those years, I grew from a young student into a mature artist through this competition. Each time I prepared, I learned how to manage a large repertoire with focus and how to communicate my music sincerely with audiences.

In particular, during my last competition, I shifted my mindset away from results and toward the process itself, focusing on creating music for myself and for the audience. Through that, I realized how deeply my music could resonate with people, and that realization gave me the confidence I needed. Even with a short preparation time for Hong Kong afterward, that experience along with the encouragement I received, helped me concentrate fully and achieve a wonderful outcome.

What I value most from the USAIHC are the harpist friends who participated alongside me, the jury members, and the audiences I’ve met along the way. It has been a privilege to encounter such extraordinary musicians, and I’m deeply grateful for every connection and the support I’ve received. Moving forward, I will continue to cherish these relationships and do my best to share my music even more widely…

It is a great honor to be appointed Principal Harpist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. This opportunity didn’t come from chasing results or success, but from staying true to my music and holding onto it through every challenge. For me, music has always been about sharing my emotions, my personality, and my whole self. I believe this position is the result of never giving up on that belief…

Thank you, USAIHC, for being such an essential part of my journey!”

Congratulations, Woojin, on this appointment, as well as your hard work and dedication in the USAIHC and beyond!