Toronto International Harp Festival

07/26/2026

The 2026 Toronto International Harp Summer Institute (July 6–10) brought together 32 talented students from around the world for a week filled with music, mentorship, and artistic growth.

Under the guidance of our distinguished faculty—Catherine Michel, Kathleen Bride, Frances Duffy, and Andrew Chan—and with special guest artists Jana Boušková, Sarah Bullen, Shamim Minoo, Huw Boucher, and Manuel Gamalinda, students immersed themselves in technique, repertoire, music history, and ensemble performance while building lasting connections with fellow harpists.

Thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable week possible. We can’t wait to welcome the next generation of harpists to the 2027 Summer Institute, taking place July 5–9!

🎶 Save the date—we hope to see you there!

07/24/2026

The power of 50 Harps
Live video from the sold-out Grand Opener at Toronto International Harp Festival 2026.

Thank you to renowned harpist Sarah Bullen for joining force, and everyone who performed, supported, and shared in this incredible experience.

Thank you to Italian composer Stefano Ottomans for his beautiful music, titled Menhir.

We’ll see you again in July 2027! 💙

Video music: recorded live in performance

07/21/2026

07/20/2026

One week later, and we’re still feeling the power and lasting impact of our “50 Harps. One Sound. Toronto Voices Unite.” concert! ✨🎶

Thank you to renowned harpist Sarah Bullen Sarah Bullen for joining force to this unforgettable celebration of the harp, its connection, and our community. Thank you to everyone who performed, supported, and shared in this incredible experience.

We’ll see you again in July 2027! 💙

07/19/2026

✨ Masterclass Series Recap ✨
An inspiring weekend of learning, artistry, and musical discovery at the Toronto International Harp Festival 2026!

Over three masterclasses, participants came from around the world and had the rare opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most celebrated harpists:

🇫🇷 The French Tradition with Catherine Michel & Kathleen Bride– exploring elegance, sound production, interpretation, and the rich legacy of the French harp school.

🇨🇿 The Bohemian Voice with Jana Boušková – discovering the expressive colours, musical storytelling, and traditions of the Czech harp heritage.

🎼 Orchestral Insights with Sarah Bullen – an inside look into the artistry of orchestral harp playing, from audition preparation to collaboration within some of the world’s leading orchestras.

Thank you to our extraordinary artists for generously sharing their knowledge, passion, and decades of experience with the next generation of harpists. To every participant and audience member who joined us, your curiosity, dedication, and love for music made these sessions truly special.

This is what iHarpFest is all about: connecting generations, celebrating traditions, and inspiring the future of harp.

See you at the next Toronto International Harp Festival in 2027! 💙🎶

TorontoArts

07/16/2026

✨ Harp Concerto Night✨
Toronto International Harp Festival 2026
What an incredible evening last Saturday! Audiences were treated to a spectacular celebration of the harp as a solo instrument, with the National Broadcasting Orchestra under the inspiring direction of Maestro Ken Hsieh.

Congratulations to our outstanding soloists: Jana Boušková, Shamim Minoo, Catherine Michel, Frances Duffy and Andrew Chan, whose breathtaking artistry brought to life a remarkable collection of rarely performed harp concertos. From hidden gems by Wagenseil, Krumpholz, TC Kelly, to an authentic performance of the classic Ravel’s Introduction & Allegro by Madame Catherine Michel of Paris, and the world-premiere performance of “Carousels” by the late Canadian Michael Conway Baker, the program showcased the extraordinary richness and versatility of the harp repertoire while shining a spotlight on contemporary and historic Canadian contributions.

Bravo to everyone who made this concert such a resounding success, helping us to champion artistic exploration, international collaboration, and the future of harp music.

🎶 Here’s to uncovering more hidden gems and continuing to celebrate the voices that shape Canada’s musical landscape. See you again in 2027!

07/16/2026

Last weekend was unforgettable! 🎶✨
50 harps. One Sound. Toronto Voices Unite.

Grand opener at Toronto International Harp Festival 2026 met with standing ovation at our sold out concert. A truly inspiring and unforgettable musical experience for all.

Thank you to everyone who performed, attended, and supported this wonderful celebration of music, and let’s do this again in 2027!

07/12/2026