For the first time since the establishment of the Harp Contest in Israel in 1959, the First Prize was awarded to an Israeli; he is Mr. Sivan Magen presently studying at Julliard in New York. In addition to a Lyon & Healy Style 23 Gold Concert harp he also won monetary Prizes for the best performance of an Israeli work and for the best performance of Balade Fantastique by Henriette Renie.

The Second Prize was awarded to Cecile Maudire of France and the Third Prize to Etsuko Chida of Japan. Teresa Zimmermann of Germany was awarded a Prize for the best performance of a contemporary piece. Ms. Maudire also received a Prize for the best performance of Natra’s Commentaires Sentimentaux.

There were 23 contestants and 10 Jury members from 15 different countries.

The Contest was opened at a well attended Gala Concert at the Tel Aviv Opera House presented by Varvara Ivanova (Russia) and Julie Bunzel (Israel) First and Second Prize winners respectively at the 15th Harp Contest in Israel. They played with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Gil Shohat conducting.

At the conclusion of the First Stage of the Contest 16 Contestants continued to Stage II and thereafter six to Stage III.

At this, the Semi-Final stage, which was dedicated to Chamber Music, three works for harp, flute and viola were performed; Sergio Natra’s “Commentaires Sentimentaux” was performed the first time in Israel. Performed for the first time in the Contest was Sofia Gubaidulina’s “Garden of Joy and Sorrow”. Contestants in this stage also played Debussy’s Sonata for flute, viola and harp.

The Final Stage was played by three contestants with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra who performed Henriette Renie’s Concerto in C Minor for Harp and Orchestra, Mendi Rodan conducting. In addition each contestant played a short piece of their choice.

All concerts of the Contest were well attended, and many people exposed to the harp for the first time.

After the First Prize was awarded to Sivan Magen, he and the Contest received much media attention.

We use this opportunity to thank all those who helped and supported this Contest.

The next, the 17th, Harp Contest will take place in 2009.
The Contest will mark its 50th Anniversary, having been founded in 1959.

The winner of the 16th International Harp Contest in Israel is Sivan Magen from Israel.

The second place was awarded to Cecile Maudire from France and the third place to Etsuko Chida from Japan.

sitting (left to right):
Cecile Maudire , France, Sivan Magen, Israel, Etsuko Chida, Japan

These three contestants, from three different countries, two women and one man, were chosen by the Jury at the end of the Semi Final to continue to the Final Stage:
Ms. Etsuko Chida, Japan
Mr. Sivan Magen, Israel
Ms. Cecile Maudire , France