Bern, 3. Juli 2008 - Vom 11. – 21. August 2008 findet auf dem Herzberg, Asp ob Aarau, die 3. Internationale Harfen-Akademie IHA „HarpMasters“ statt. Die Akademie wird durch International Music Centre HARPSPACE in Zusammenarbeit mit Herzberg, Haus für Bildung und Begegnung und dem Gutenberg Museum Freiburg organisiert.
“Wir freuen uns sehr, dieses Jahr wiederum Skaila Kanga, Professor und Head of Harp Studies an der Royal Academy of Music (London) und Milda Agazarian, Professor of Harp an der Russian Academy of Music (Moskau) in unserem Lehrkörper begrüssen zu können,“ sagt Irina Zingg, Künstlerische Direktorin des IHA „HarpMasters“. „Die beiden Professorinnen werden neben der Meisterklasse auch Harfenensemble einstudieren und Privatstunden während der Woche auf dem Herzberg geben.“
Nach dem grossen Erfolg des Jazz-Workshops, der im letzten Jahr zum ersten Mal stattgefunden hat, stellt die Akademie eine `HarpMasters` Jazz-Abteilung zur Verfügung, die von dem weltberühmten Jazz-Harfenisten Park Stickney geleitet wird. Park ist in New York und Genf zu Hause und gibt seinen sensationellen Jazz-Workshop wie auch Privatstunden während der Akademie.
Die Studentinnen für die 3. IHA „HarpMasters“ kommen aus England, Japan, USA, der Schweiz, China und zum ersten Mal auch aus Spanien. Einige Studentinnen nehmen bereits das 3. Mal an der Akademie teil.
Dank der Teilnahme an der letztjährigen Internationalen Harfen-Akademie „HarpMasters“ konnten 2 Teilnehmerinnen mit Podestplätzen an internationalen Wettbewerben glänzen.
Die Ziele der Internationalen Harfen-Akademie „HarpMasters“ sind:
• Eine innovative Harfen-Akademie zu sein, die in talentierte junge Künstler aus der ganzen Welt investiert.
• Einen Austausch zwischen ihnen und den grossen Meistern zu ermöglichen.
• Ein hohes technisches und künstlerisches Niveau in der Harfenkunst zu fördern.
• Das Harfenspiel einem breiteren Publikum näherzubringen.
Der Kurs steht auch für Zuhörer offen. Die Tageskarte kostet CHF 40.00 exkl. Verpflegung auf dem Herzberg.
Am Donnerstag, 14. August 2008, um 19.30 Uhr, findet auf dem Herzberg das Konzert der chinesischen Weltklasse-Harfenistin Dan Yu statt.
Nach der erfolgreichen letztjährigen Harfen-Benefiz-Matinee im Gutenberg Museum in Fribourg und aufgrund der grossen Publikumsnachfrage führen das Gutenberg Museum und „HarpMasters“ eine 2. Matinee durch. Sie findet am Sonntag, 17. August, um 11.00 Uhr, im Gutenberg Museum Fribourg statt.
Am Mittwoch, 20. August 2008, um 19.00 Uhr, spielen die Teilnehmerinnen der 3. Internationalen Harfen-Akademie „HarpMasters“ an der „Harfen-Gala“ in der Peter und Paul Kirche in Aarau. Der Eintritt ist frei, Kollekte zur Förderung der Internationalen Harfen-Akademie „HarpMasters“.
Für weitere Fragen und Informationen nehmen Sie mit uns Kontakt an:
On
Sunday June 29thClaire Jones, Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of
Wales, will perform with The Welsh Sinfonia in a special concert in aid of The
British Red Cross Myanmar Cyclone and China Earthquake Appeal. Claire participated in `HarpMasters`2007and will return this year. For more activities of Claire Jones, please visit her official site
This is to
let you know about the jazz course at this year’s International Harp Academy
“Harp Masters” in Switzerland this August.Last year’s course was a big success, and I’m very happy to report that
I’ve been asked to continue the jazz program as a permanent member of the team.
This year’s
course will involve a group class as well as private lessons.The group class will be a combination workshop
and masterclass--feel free to bring jazz pieces you’re working on (or
questions!)
Otherwise,
like last year, we’ll use a jazz standard (which you’ll receive in advance), as
a canvas to explore chords, improvisation, some (very friendly) jazz theory,
pedal slides, and much more.
The goal is
to have you learn the basics of jazz playing while also adding a new piece to
your repertoire.
What could
be better than exploring jazz harp in a beautiful, friendly, and informal
setting?
Hope to see
you there!
Sincerely,
Park Stickney
May 8, 2008
New Release: Skaila KANGA `Minstrel`s Holiday` by Maruka Music
Presentation at the IHM `HarpMasters`
Friday, August 15, 2008
MINSTREL’S HOLIDAY,a collection of 20 easy fun pieces for lever or pedal harp, is the
long-awaited sequel to the highly popular Minstrel`s Gallery and once
again it is written for Minstrels of all ages. The purpose is to
introduce interesting new titles, cool rhythms, various harp effects
and a measure of `acting` to the music – all aimed at having as much
fun as possible whilst learning at the same time.
Skaila Kanga joins Milda Agazarian to teach as a Resident Professor during the 3rd International Harp Academy `HarpMasters`
coming up this August in Switzerland. The classes of these two
celebrated harpists have gained popular demand of younger as well
established harpists, who travel from all over the world to study with
these outstanding teachers. During the week`s program their inspiring
masterclass sessions, lessons, lectures, talks will leave no person
untouched. During the intensive, packed, (but with much fun) teaching
program you will gain priceless knowledge and, the most importantly,
the inspiration to help you achieve your goals.
Feel free to ask us any questions at
April 7, 2008
Dear Harpmasters, dearfriends,
It will be for the third time this August that we continue to meet to exchange our experiences, share our knowledge and inspire each other during the 3rd International Harp Academy Harpmasters in Switzerland. Our idea of building up a high level end of summer harp program has produced outstanding results.Many of our students show remarkable progress, as well as going on to win important prizes at national and international competitions since attending our course. Besides being in a charming venue and well-structured organization, there is always friendly atmosphere, in which participants work hard to develop their skills and professors are happy to share their knowledge with their young colleagues.
During our panel discussion this year we will talk in detail about preparation forcompetitions. In this talk, the 1st Prize winner of the 2001 USA International Competition Dan Yu, will join Skaila Kanga and myself to give you the widest overview with many tips and behind the scenes information. In addition we are all immensely looking forward to the Celebrity Recital and Guest Masterclass of our renowned colleague Catherine Michel.
Following last year’s great success, Park Stickney will join us this year as a Resident Professor of Jazz Harp and will work with you during his annual jazz workshop as well as giving private lessons.
Finally but most important, you will gain priceless friendships which will support you throughout your long professional journey.
I look forward to meeting once again our returning participants as well as warmly welcoming new participants.
Looking forward to meeting you this summer in Switzerland
Best wishes
Professor Milda Agazarian
Russian Music Academy, Moscow
March 14, 2008
Dear friends and supporters of Harpmasters,
Once again we will meet up in sunny Switzerland in the beautiful setting of Herzberg to continue our passion for the harp for the 3rd year running. We have a really exciting program for you this coming August. Park Stickney will join us for his now regular slot as Resident Professor of Jazz Harp, taking both 1-1 lessons and a group workshop. We will also welcome two international guests - Catherine Michel and Dan Yu, who will give concerts and guests masterclasses as well as their famous 'backstage talks'. This year we will talk about preparation for competitions.
Many students now visit us on a regular basis and have greatly improved their musicianship and performance level as a direct result. We would also like to welcome teachers and friends as listeners. Have a wonderful spring and I hope to see you in August.
Very best wishes
Professor Skaila Kanga Royal Academy of Music London, U.K.
Professor SKAILA KANGA reports on 2nd International Harp Academy "HarpMasters"
The second "HarpMasters" course was held once again at the Herzberg Convention Hotel, high in the mountains above Aarau near Zurich. Students travelled from across the world to embark on this musical journey. They came from Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Czech Republic, France, USA, England, Wales, Germany and Switzerland. This event is designed to help individual harpists at advanced level to extend the boundaries of their performance, remedy their technical problems, to widen their repertoire, experience and understanding of their instrument and to make new friends.
An essential part of the programme is to hear leading guest artists’ perform and have opportunities to talk with them afterwards, listen to lectures and workshops. This year, thanks to the generosity of the Victor Salvi Foundation, Gwyneth Wentink, 1st Prize winner of the Israel Competition, gave a fascinating recital of both well-known and contemporary works. Her precision and musicianship in combining an array of percussion instruments with flawless harp playing was awesome. She later spoke of her journey with the harp from early beginnings, through the competition years, her present day activities and future goals. Regular afternoon masterclasses with resident professors Milda Agazarian from Moscow and Skaila Kanga from London integrated well with morning private lessons and individual practice. We greatly appreciate the continued support of Salvi Harps, who donated eight superb concert grand harps. This kind of course is not possible without their help and we send our grateful thanks once again. The flexibility of this developing programme allows the student to be a listener or just take private lessons. This year there were auditors from France, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Germany. Midweek, we were joined by Park Stickney, the unrivalled king of jazz-harp, who gave an incredible recital to a packed, cheering audience at the Gutenberg Museum in Fribourg. The following day, Park held a day-long workshop back at Herzberg, in which he taught many jazz harp skills such as chords, bass lines, pedal slides, chromatics, swing and blues, grooves and improvisation. After the workshop all participants were truly stunned, many of whom never dreamt they would perform these skills in one day! Following this success, Park Stickney will join HarpMasters as resident professor of Jazz Harp in future years. There will be opportunities to take private lessons and/or attend his annual workshop. Milda Agazarian gave a most informative lecture on the history of the Russian School of Harp Performance, illustrated with photographs and recordings. Her ‘Tips and Tricks’ demonstration of basic Russian hand position, scales and arpeggio techniques was illuminating to all, especially those with technical difficulties. Skaila Kanga also talked about life in the recording studios and the pressures and skills required to succeed in this field. She played some of her recordings with Itzak Perlman, Tommy Reilly, Barbara Streisand, Sting and Elton John and answered many questions about many of the artists and composers she has worked with over the years.
Ensemble performance plays a big role in the lives of most professional harpists and this is a skill we work on regularly at HarpMasters. This year at the final concert, the harp octets played Waltz from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and Mussorgsky’s Great Gate of Kiev from ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’. Jimin and Jiyoung Lee were the brilliant duo in John Thomas’ Cambria. This concert is the focal point of HarpMasters. It gives the students a chance to meter their week’s progress, affirm their work and goals for the coming months and experience a formal concert setting. The level this year was truly outstanding. The programme included solo works by Salzedo, Grandjany, Parish Alvars, Walter Kune, Philippe Hersant, Sally Beamish, Jan Fischer, Tournier and Godefroid. A second concert opportunity on the following morning at the Gutenberg Museum, gave students a chance to perform other works from the week’s classes.
HarpMasters’ aim is to constantly adapt and develop according to the needs of our younger generation of harpists, to provide encouragement and support and to promote awareness of our instrument to the concert-going public. We definitely feel we have furthered these goals this year and the enthusiasm and performance level of both our new and returning students are testimony to our mission.
Our website www.harpmasters.com is constantly updated and our expert management team led by Mrs Irina Zingg is happy to assist with any enquiries. Look out for pictures and comments from this year’s course.
Here’s to HarpMasters 2008!
Professor Skaila Kanga Head of Harp Studies, Royal Academy of Music, London.
was held in Switzerland between August 5-13, 2007. It turned out to be an outstanding summer harp course. We welcomed back Professors-in-Residence Skaila Kanga and Milda Agazarian, who conducted daily, as ever outstanding, masterclass sessions, private lessons, ensemble sessions as well as gave most interesting lectures. In harp ensemble sessions we prepared the Waltz from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Great Gate of Kiev” by Mussorgsky which were performed at the Final Gala Concert, giving the Swiss audiences first performances of pieces for 8 concert harps!
We are extremely proud to have had such a talented, motivated, hard-working and friendly group of HarpMasters 2007 participants. They travelled from across the world to work together, to listen and help each other and above all, to learn from their mentors.
We would like to send our very best thanks to our sponsors - without their continued support the development of the program would not be possible.
Salvi Harps for providing 8 concert harps for the course
Both the Jazz Concert and Workshop on the following day given by Park Stickney were an incredible success. There were many moments of inspiration, encouragement, knowledge, joy, eye-opening revelations – all packed into one day’s workshop for young harpists. We are more than proud to announce, that Park will join HarpMasters’ residential Professors’ board and will lead the Jazz Division of HarpMasters’ Program for years to come!
We will follow with more reports and photos of the course in next few weeks. At the meantime, thank you to all participants of HarpMasters 2007 and we welcome you back to the
