THANK YOU
The 2026 Toronto International Harp Festival was truly unforgettable.
The success of the festival would not have been possible without our dedicated artists and the wonderful audience.
With your commitment and support that nurtures talent, strengthens community, and ensures events like ours continue to thrive. we look forward to bringing even more incredible music and cultural exchange to the stage in 2027.
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL
HARP SUMMER INSTITUTE
Our 2026 Summer Institute (July 6–10th) welcomed 32 students from Germany, Ireland, Mexico, across the Greater Toronto Area, Western Canada, and across USA for an inspiring week of music, mentorship, and artistic growth. Led by distinguished faculty members Catherine Michel, Kathleen Bride, Frances Duffy, and Andrew Chan, with guest speakers Jana Boušková, Sarah Bullen, Shamim Minoo, Huw Boucher, and Manuel Gamalinda, students explored technique, repertoire, performance & ensemble skills, music history & theory, and harp care.
We look forward to welcoming the next generation of harpists to our next Summer Institute taking place July 5-9th 2027.
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50 Harps.
One Sound.
Toronto Voices United.
Our sold‑out Grand Opener, "50 Harps. One Sound. Toronto Voices Unite." has become another remarkable artistic undertaking brought to life at iHarpFest 2026. Fifty harpists from Toronto and beyond filled the hall with shimmering resonance, guiding audiences through musical landscapes.
The concert concluded with the world-premiere performance of "As the Swallow Flies", co-composed by Canadian harpist Sunshine Quan and Toronto composer Matthew James Van Driel, led by renowned harpist Sarah Bullen as concertmaster.
The audience clapped along to the joyful encore before rewarding the performers with a second standing ovation.
Harp Concerto Night
with National Broadcasting Orchestra
The beloved "Harp Concerto Night" with the National Broadcasting Orchestra, led by Maestro Ken Hsieh, once again became a festival highlight, celebrating the harp through masterworks and rare discoveries.
Catherine Michel brought authentic French artistry to Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, Jana Boušková captivated audiences with the rarely performed Krumpholtz Concerto in B-flat Major.
Shamim Minoo made a brilliant North American debut in Wagenseil’s Harp Concerto, and Frances Duffy showcased the beauty of Irish melodies in T. C. Kelly’s Fantasias. The evening concluded with the world premiere of Carousels, a tribute to the late Canadian composer Michael Conway Baker, featuring festival Artistic Director Andrew Chan performing alongside his teacher Catherine Michel in a heartfelt musical reunion.
Every soloist received a standing ovation, bringing an unforgettable close to one of iHarpFest 2026's defining concerts.
Harpist to Her Majesty
iHarpFest presented a grand tribute to John Thomas (1826–1913), the celebrated Pencerd Gwalia and Harpist to Her Majesty. His music, included one written for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, brought Victorian elegance back to life.
Welsh harpist Huw Boucher, offered an authentic revival of Thomas’ music, made possible through the generous support of the Welsh Toronto Society.
Ukrainian Canadian soprano Mira Solovianenko led a vocal quartet whose radiant sound enriched the concert’s storytelling and presentation.
The celebration continued with solo and harp duets by John Thomas, brought to life by renowned harpists Sarah Bullen, Catherine Michel, and Frances Duffy. These seldom-heard works celebrated John Thomas's remarkable legacy, bringing forgotten gems of the harp repertoire vividly back to life for today's audiences.
Finale: Harp Meets Theatre
For Finale, iHarpFest presented the Toronto Premiere of Rita Costanzi’s acclaimed theatrical performance, Woman on a Ledge, a stunning fusion of theatre and music. Former harpist of the CBC Radio Orchestra and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Costanzi brought raw honesty and dramatic intensity to the stage, leaving many audience members visibly moved.
Adapted for theatre by Hershey Felder from Costanzi’s own writings, the production revealed the harp’s voice as both delicate and daring — capable of inhabiting not only concert halls but the heart of human experience.
A powerful conclusion at iHarpFest 2026, "Woman on a Ledge" demonstrated the harp’s ability to illuminate vulnerability, resilience, and transformation.
2026 ARTIST SPOTLGHT
2027
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL COMING SOON
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