TORONTO INTERNATIONAL
HARP SUMMER INSTITUTE
The 2026 Summer Institute (July 6–10) welcomed 32 students from around the world for a week of music, mentorship, and artistic growth. Led by distinguished faculty Catherine Michel, Kathleen Bride, Frances Duffy, and Andrew Chan, with guest artists Jana Boušková, Sarah Bullen, Shamim Minoo, Huw Boucher, and Manuel Gamalinda, students explored technique, repertoire, history, and ensemble skills. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of harpists at the 2027 Summer Institute: July 5–9th.
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50 Harps. One Sound.
Toronto Voices Unite.
Our sold-out Grand Opener, "50 Harps. One Sound. Toronto Voices Unite." brought together fifty harpists from Toronto and beyond in a breathtaking celebration of unity and music led by renowned harpist Sarah Bullen as concertmaster.
The Saturday 3pm concert concluded with the world premiere of "As the Swallow Flies", co-composed by Sunshine Quan and Matthew James Van Driel. 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, celebrated the harp through masterworks and rare discoveries at 7:30pm on July 11th.
Catherine Michel brought authentic French artistry to Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, Jana Boušková captivated audiences with Bohemian Krumpholtz’s rarely performed Concerto in B-flat Major,
Shamim Minoo made a brilliant North American debut with Wagenseil’s Harp Concerto, and Frances Duffy showcased Irish melodies with T. C. Kelly’s Fantasias.
The evening concluded with the world premiere of Carousels, a tribute to Canadian composer Michael Conway Baker, featuring Artistic Director Andrew Chan performing alongside his teacher Catherine Michel. Every soloist received a standing ovation, bringing an unforgettable close to one of iHarpFest 2026's defining concerts.
Harpist to Her Majesty
iHarpFest honoured John Thomas (1826–1913), the celebrated Pencerdd Gwalia and Harpist to Her Majesty, bringing Victorian elegance and forgotten harp treasures back to life. Huw Boucher, supported by the Welsh Toronto Society, revived Thomas’ music.
Joined by Ukrainian Canadian soprano Mira Solovianenko and her vocal quartet, rare solo, harp duets and arrangements by Thomas were brought to life by Sarah Bullen, Catherine Michel, and Frances Duffy, celebrating 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. Costanzi brought raw honesty and dramatic intensity to the stage, leaving many audience members visibly moved.
A powerful conclusion of iHarpFest 2026, "Woman on a Ledge" demonstrated the harp’s ability to illuminate vulnerability, resilience, and transformation. The harp’s voice, as both delicate and daring, is capable of inhabiting not only concert halls but the heart of human experience.
2026 ARTIST SPOTLGHT
July 2027
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL COMING SOON
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