VIVAHARP

VIVAHARP 2025 ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

The completed online-application form has to be sent until March 17^th, 2025.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

1. A copy of a document certifying the applicant’s date of birth;
2. Photo in a SEPARATE FILE with the participant’s name;
3. A Bank document for the participation fee being paid;
4. Declaration under Personal Data Protection Law
5. Brief presentation of the participant in a SEPARATE FILE (age; how long the applicant has been playing the harp; teacher’s name; educational institution).

The additional documents must be sent no later than March 17, 2025, to the following email address: vivaharpsofia@gmail.com

On-line application form will be available on December 20, 2024

Applications for participation will be accepted after December 20, 2024, until the maximum capacity of the competition program is reached.

The fee for all participants is EURO 80

The fee for Bulgarian participants is BGN 80*

*The fee for Bulgarian participants is partially sponsored by the Ardenza Foundation, and the remaining amount due for participation that is to be paid by the participant, is BGN 80.

The fee should be paid by bank transfer to:

Ardenza Foundation
First Investment Bank
Narodno sabranie square 3, Sofia, 1000
IBAN – BG76FINV91501203661767
BIC/SWIFT – FINVBGSF

Please specify as a payment reason: “VivaHarp 2025 Application Fee for (participant’s first and last name)”

All bank fees and commissions are to be paid by the participant.

1. Who can participate?

The VivaHarp International Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria is open to participants of any age and nationality, who:

A – study harp as a private student, at a private music course or music center /lever or pedal harp/.

B – study harp at a Music School or Academy /lever or pedal harp – groups 1, 2, 3; pedal harp – group 4 to 6/

The competition is for those young harpists who want to have an unforgettable musical experience at the National Music School in Sofia and let their passion for harp music shine!

Participant from category “A” can apply in category “B”.

2. Organizers, dates and place

The VivaHarp Internationl Competion, founded by Daniela Dikova and Kohar Andonyan, is organized by the Ardenza Foundation in partnership with the non-profit association “Nautilus 432”. The first edition of the competition will take place on the 5th & 6th of April, 2025 at the National Music School “Lyubomir Pipkov” in Sofia.

Biliana Vassilieva & Aleksandrina Kushnichanova – coordinators of the VivaHarp Competiton, for more info, please contact us at vivaharpsofia@gmail.com

3. Competition round, Gala concert, awards

The competition is held in one round. The jury will rank the participants in each age group in first, second or third place according to a certain point system. All participants will receive diplomas Special prizes will also be awarded. The participants who have been appointed the maximum 100 points, at the jury’s discretion will take part in the final Gala concert.

4. Competition program

The pieces to be performed on the competition round are freely chosen by the participants (pieces, separate parts of sonatas, concertos and other musical compositions) and should be indicated in the application form with timing specified.

The pieces should be performed by heart.
Contestants shall present to the jury 3 copies of the music scores.

Regulations for Musical Performances

Group 0, 1, 2 – two or more pieces of your choice of different character within the specified time

Group 3 – three pieces of your choice:

• one piece from the Baroque or Classical period
• two pieces of different character from the 19th to 21st century

Group 4, 5, 6 – three pieces of your choice:

• one piece of your choice from the Baroque period (any arrangement, no repeats).
• two pieces of different character from the 19th to 21st century.

** Participants are required to adhere to the specified duration for performances in each group

** In case of exceeding the allotted time, the jury reserves the right to interrupt the performance.

** Participants must prepare their repertoire in advance and ensure that all pieces can be performed within the given time.

Please make sure you are familiar with all the requirements and rules before the competition.

Good luck to all participants!

5. Competition groups, age and maximum timing

Harpists from Bulgaria and abroad can take part in the competition, divided into the following groups, each of a different age range and fixed timing for the performance of the pieces.

Category A

Applicants with non-professional orientation (students at private courses, music centers, private students, playing the lever or pedal harp):

Group 0 – up to 7 years inclusive – up to 3 minutes

Group 1 – from 8 to 10 years inclusive – 3 – 5 minutes
Group 2 – from 11 to 13 years inclusive – 4 – 7 minutes
Group 3 – from 14 to 16 years inclusive – 5 – 9 minutes
Group 4 – from 16 to 18 years inclusive – up to 11 minutes
Group 5 – over 19 to 28 years – up to 18 minutes

Category B

Applicants with professional orientation (applicants from music schools and conservatories):

Group 1 /lever or pedal harp/ – from 7 to 8 years old inclusive – 2-4 minutes
Group 2 /lever or pedal harp/ – from 9 to 10 years old inclusive – 3-6 minutes
Group 3 /lever or pedal harp/ – from 11 to 13 years old inclusive – 7-9 minutes
Group 4 /pedal harp/  – from 14 to 15 years old inclusive – 10-12 minutes
Group 5 /pedal harp/  – from 16 to 18 years old inclusive – 12-15 minutes
Group 6 /pedal harp/  – over 19 to 28 years old inclusive – up to 20 minutes

If the time limit is exceeded, the jury reserves the right to interrupt the candidate’s performance.

*The age of the candidates is assessed as of the date of the competition!

6. Schedule for the competition round

The schedule will be arranged by date of birth within each group. Participants must appear at least 30 minutes prior to their performance time to be officially registered for the competition. An additional premises will be available for a short rehearsal. Participants should secure accompaniment at their own expense. The competition round will be open for audience.

The established schedule for performance will be published on the website of the Ardenza foundation: https://ardenzamusic.org within 3 days before the date of the competition.

7. Costs for the participants

All expenses related to participation in the competition (travel, an accompanist, accommodation, food, etc.) are to be borne by the participant.

8. License and Copyrights

The participants shall authorize the Ardenza Foundation to take photographs and make audio and video recordings to document their participation in the competition, and shall unconditionally waive their right to receive royalties or other compensation for the use of such materials to promote the contest.

9. Consent to the competition rules

By sending the completed application form and documents by the participants, the participants agree to the competition rules.

The jury of VivaHarp International Competition is composed of three distinguished harp professors & performers: Suzanna Klintcharova, Emanuela Degli Esposti and Kohar Andonyan.

The jury evaluates and ranks participants from each age group in two categories – “A” and “B.” All of the decisions regarding ranking of the participants are final and indisputable.

Awards are based on the performance in the competition round:
• First, second, and third prizes in each category
• Solo Performance with Orchestra award – nominated by the jury among performers who have received the maximum number of points.
• Special award – established by the distinguished Bulgarian harp educator and performer, Prof. Malina Christova
• Special awards for outstanding performers in the competition
• Participation certificates for all performers