Vision

Our vision is to be a global platform for the harp that will inspire artistic excellence, encourage personal growth, launch careers and create community between musicians and their audiences.

Mission

The USA International Harp Competition exists to inspire, promote, and sustain artistic excellence while fostering a broader appreciation of the harp and its repertoire.

Bringing people together through the universal language of music, we enhance international and community relationships by producing our harp competition, composition contest, concert series, and educational programs.

Competition Videos

Visit our Youtube channel to view the USAIHC video collection.

More than the Gold

Founded in 1989 by Susann McDonald, the USAIHC is known as the foremost solo harp competition in the world, but it is so much More than the Gold. The video details the four core programs which make up the USAIHC, and also highlights our invaluable community engagement in our Host Families program. Enjoy learning about our:

• Solo Performance Competition

• USAIHC Ruth Inglefield Composition Contest

• Harp Start educational program

• Concert Series

• Community engagement - Host Families

Dream with US(AIHC)

At all levels of the USA International Harp Competition, from our Stars of Tomorrow performers to our forty contestants, dreams are what fuel each individual to reach their personal best.

The USAIHC’s four programs – the Solo Harp Performance Competition, the USAIHC Ruth Inglefield Composition Contest, Harp Start educational program, and Concert Series – are the framework that allow dreams to flourish and be shared. Our Competition and Composition Contest provide the opportunity for harpists and composers to make their dreams become reality, while Harp Start and our Concert Series share these dreams with people of all ages and backgrounds through culturally enriching performances.

Dream with us and consider making a donation to the USA International Harp Competition!

13th Competition - 2025

USAIHC Ruth Inglefield Composition Contest

Harp Start

The USA International Harp Competition (USAIHC) is an independent triennial performance competition held at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana that recognizes the accomplishments and fosters the careers of gifted young harpists worldwide. Founded in 1989 by Susann McDonald, world-renowned harpist and Distinguished Professor Emerita of Harp at Indiana University, the USA International Harp Competition is open to harpists of all nationalities between the ages of 18 and 32. 

The USAIHC performance competition is paired with a globally recognized triennial Composition Contest producing myriad new works for the harp.  The USAIHC also recognizes the need to engage its local community by presenting an annual Concert Series of distinguished harpists and introduces hundreds of students to the harp through its educational program, Harp Start. 

Spanning the diversity of performance, new music, and education, the USA International Harp Competition offers inspiration, appreciation, and excellence for the harp and harpists worldwide.

The USA International Harp Competition, Inc. is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Contributions to the USAIHC are tax deductible according to current USA laws.