The Elena Carfi International Harp Competition honors the memory of this remarkable Argentine teacher, who devoted herself lovingly and selflessly to her students. Born in Santiago del Estero, a province in the heart of Argentina, Elena Carfi was unquestionably the leading teacher of harpists in Argentina during the second half of the twentieth century.
The purpose of this competition is to encourage, inspire, and motivate children and young people in their musical journey through the harp. The competition will be held every two years.
Each category will include one work by an Argentine or Latin American composer, either an original composition or a transcription. In this way, we aim to promote the rich musical heritage of Argentina and the countries of South America.
Rules
1. Eligibility
The competition is open to harp students of all nationalities.
2. Repertoire
Children’s Category 1
Open to contestants who are 10 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2027.
- Étude No. 13b from Pozzoli – 1st Grade (Metodo per Arpa by Maria Grossi, p. 100)
- Petite Berceuse – Alphonse Hasselmans
- Ronda – Luis Gianneo (Transcription by Marcela Méndez)
https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/marcela-mendez/ronda
Children’s Category 2
Open to contestants who are 12 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2027.
- Étude No. 39 from Pozzoli – 2nd Grade (Metodo per Arpa by Maria Grossi, p. 145)
- Barcarolle, from Trois Pièces Brèves – Marcel Grandjany
- Danza Campesina – Luis Gianneo (Transcription by Marcela Méndez)
https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/marcela-mendez/danza-campesina
Junior Category 1
Open to contestants who are 15 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2027.
- Sonatina No. 2 – François Joseph Naderman
- Chanson de Mai – Alphonse Hasselmans (any edition)
- Triste No. 4 – Julián Aguirre (Transcription by Augusto Sebastiani), pp. 54–55 of the publication. Competitors who do not wish to purchase the complete book may contact the organizing committee.
https://harpcolumn.com/music/all-music/artists/marcela-mendez/harp-music-from-argentina
Youth Category 2
Open to contestants who are 18 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2027.
- Sonata, Op. 3 No. 2 in G Major – Sophia Corri Dussek (any edition)
- Féerie: Introduction et Danse – Marcel Tournier
- Argentine Work: First Movement of Sonatina – Alberto Ginastera
All repertoire must be performed from memory and without repeats.
Participants in the Children’s Categories may compete on either lever harp or pedal harp.
For any questions regarding the repertoire, please contact:
amigosdelarpa@gmail.com
Organizing Committee
Marcela Méndez
Ramiro Enríquez
Valentina Venturini Massat
Florencia Arizpe
María Victoria Cozzi
Awards
All prizes will be announced in due course.
Registration
To register, please complete the registration form: https://forms.gle/wiynzwDHx7LFWyPG6
Children’s and Youth Categories
The registration fee is ARS 50,000 for participants residing in Argentina and USD 50 (US Dollars) for international participants.
Payment Methods
Argentine Participants or Residents of Argentina
- Mercado Pago (a payment link or QR code can be provided). Debit and credit cards are accepted.
- Bank Transfer
Asociación Civil Amigos del Arpa
(CUIT): 30-71630865-7
Checking Account (Argentine Pesos)
CBU: 0720192520000001526268
Alias: MALTA.PULMON.GEN
International Participants
PayPal: amigosdelarpa@gmail.com
Schedule
Registration deadline: October 1, 2027
Video submission period: October 11–29, 2027
Videos submitted after 11:59 p.m. (GMT-3) on October 29, 2027 will not be accepted.
Announcement of the winners: November 22, 2027
The jury will be announced soon.
Video Requirements
Camera Position
The performance must be recorded with the camera in landscape (horizontal) orientation, positioned to the left side of the performer. Both hands and the performer’s face must remain clearly visible throughout the recording.
The required repertoire for each category may be recorded as separate performances using a single camera angle without editing. However, if the repertoire includes a complete sonata, it must be recorded in a single uninterrupted take.
If the jury believes that any video has been edited, the participant will be disqualified.
All required pieces must be submitted as a single video file.
The recording quality is left to the participant’s discretion. A standard mobile phone recording is acceptable, although recording with the highest quality available is strongly recommended.
The order of the repertoire may be chosen freely by the participant.
Before beginning the performance, each contestant must introduce themselves orally in their native language, stating:
- Full name
- Age
- Country of residence
- Competition category
Video Publication Requirements
The video must be uploaded to YouTube as an Unlisted video no later than 11:59 p.m. (GMT-3) on October 29, 2027.
Once uploaded, participants must send the YouTube link to:
amigosdelarpa@gmail.com
The email must also include the PDF of the free-choice piece, where applicable.
If it is not possible to upload the video to YouTube, the participant must send the video via WeTransfer before 11:59 p.m. (GMT-3) on October 29, 2027, so that it may be uploaded to the Asociación Amigos del Arpa YouTube channel.
The videos must remain available on YouTube until November 22, 2027, and may not be removed before that date.
Video Title
The title of the recording must include the following information:
Elena Carfi International Harp Competition – Participant’s Full Name – Competition Category – Age
Video Description
The video description must include the complete program in the order of performance, specifying:
- Composer
- Arranger (when applicable)
- Title of the work
- Opus number (if applicable)
- Movement title
The name of the participant’s teacher and/or educational institution must not be mentioned anywhere in the video description.
Comments on the YouTube video must be disabled.
For the Best Recording Quality, We Recommend:
- Choose a plain, neutral background.
- Avoid recording against strong backlighting (for example, in front of a window).
- Record in the quietest environment possible to minimize background noise.
- Place the recording device securely on a stable tripod or other fixed support to ensure a steady image.
Video Evaluation
The organizer will invite the members of the jury to a Zoom evaluation meeting according to the scheduled time.
To ensure the transparency of the evaluation process, the Asociación Amigos del Arpa will appoint an independent overseer, who will observe the proceedings without participating in the discussion or voting.
If a contestant is a student of one of the jury members, that juror must abstain from evaluating that contestant. In such cases, the final score will be calculated by averaging the scores of the remaining four jurors.
Scores will be awarded on a scale from 0 to 10 points.
On the evening before the Zoom meeting, each juror will submit their scores to the independent overseer. The overseer will calculate the average scores in advance so that they are available during the evaluation session.
The evaluation of each contestant will be conducted individually, and access to partial results will remain restricted.
If necessary, the complete score overview will be available only to the President of the Jury. The Zoom meeting will be limited to comments, suggestions, and observations regarding the performances.
The entire evaluation process will be recorded.