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The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music at Old Dominion University is excited to announce the 10th anniversary of the Hampton Roads Harp Festival, Friday-Saturday, February 27-28, 2026 in Norfolk, Virginia! Join us for 2 exciting days filled with workshops, masterclasses, and performances open to all ages, styles and levels.
Register at the link below!
Please note: Only one parent/guardian accompanying a full-fee paying minor may attend free of charge; we regret that we are unable to accommodate unregistered siblings. Limited street parking is available; all-day, on-campus parking is $10/day.
*Registration fees are non-refundable.
example schedule from 2025
9:00-9:20
Check-in and Registration; sponsored by Vanderbilt Music Company
9:20-10:10
Therapeutic Harp with Mary Bircher, Barbara Chapman, and Karen Stowe
Discover the healing power of harp music and its applications in therapeutic settings
10:20-11:10
Competition Finals with Mary Bircher, Alexis Colner, and Chaerim Kim
Experience the pinnacle of harp talent as finalists compete for top honors; sponsored by Lyon & Healy Harps
11:20-1:00
Masterclass with Emily Levin
Gain invaluable insights and personalized feedback on solo and/or chamber repertoire
1:00-1:25
Lunch and Vendor Shopping
Refuel and explore a curated selection of harp accessories and music
1:00-1:25
Lunchtime Open Mic
Showcase your talent or enjoy an array of impromptu performances
1:30-2:20
Orchestral Mock Auditions with Mary Bircher, Alexis Colner, and Emily Levin
Test your skills and receive expert critique on iconic orchestral excerpts from principal harpists from the Omaha, Virginia, and Dallas Symphonies. They will also discuss the audition process, how it works, strategies to improve, and the importance of knowing how your part fits into the whole.
Choose 1, 2, or 3 of the following excerpts:
Mussorgsky Night on Bald Mountain
Tchaikovsky Waltz of the Flowers cadenza
Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio espagnol cadenza
Stravinsky Firebird Suite - Berceuse, 9 before Figure 6-12
2:20-3:10
Techniques in Harp Arranging with Victoria Gonzalez
No matter your level or style, you can discover techniques for arranging for pedal and lever harps and ensembles, as well as how to incorporate extended techniques
2:20-3:10
Making Music with Smaller Harps with Mary Bircher
Unlock the versatility of smaller harps in creating beautiful, expressive music
3:10-4:00
Techniques for Managing Stage Fright Effectively with Chaerim Kim
Discover practical strategies to perform confidently under pressure
4:00
Closing Concert with Emily Levin
Conclude an exciting day with an inspiring performance
Alexander Boldachev is a virtuoso-harpist, composer, exclusive artist of Italian harp house Salvi Harps, initiator of the World Harp Day, founder of the Zurich Harp Festival, and co-founder of community “LYUDẎ.” Laureate of more than a dozen prestigious international competitions, including composing competitions; awarded by the “Britain's Brilliant Prodigies”, “Aoyama Music Award” in Kyoto, “Pro Europa” in Austria, presented by Heinz Fischer for high achievements in the field of culture; Fellow of the international foundations Vontobel in Switzerland and Banque Populaire in France, as well as the Russian foundations for the development of young musicians Spivakov, Temirkanov, the Rotary Club and Houses of Music that gave a start to his career. Laureate of the Prix Walo television award in Switzerland.
Plays the harp, piano and writes music from the age of five. Travels with solo concerts around the world, leads master classes at such educational institutions as the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Juilliard School in New York, Royal Academy in London, Ferenc Liszt Academy in Budapest. In 2018, wrote and performed an electronic harp solo at the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, sharing the stage with Robbie Williams and Aida Garifullina. Performs in such world halls as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Hall of Gaveau in Paris, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Great Hall of the Philharmonic in St. Petersburg, and others, both with solo concerts and in collaboration with many European and Russian orchestras.
Alexander Boldachev is a participant of the festivals Burning Man, Musical Olympus, New Names, Mozart+, Davos and Gstaad in Switzerland, Big Russian Ball in Rome, Bravo Award, SKIF Sergey Kuroyokhin, Burberry and D&G shows, projects of The Moscow and St. Petersburg Houses of Music.
*Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout the Hampton Roads Harp Festival and Competition (HRHF). They will be used by the HRHF for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website, and in social media or in any third party publication.