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2012 USAIHC Composition Contest Winner


First Place Winner, Benjamin Attahir



After reviewing 81 compositions for solo harp, submitted by composers from 24 different countries, USA International Harp Competition, Inc. announces the 2012 Solo Harp Composition Contest winner. The winning composition will be played by all 9^th Harp Competition semi-finalists July 16-17, 2013.
In first place is De l’obscurité II composed by Benjamin Attahir (Toulouse, France). Currently under commission by the Lucerne Festival, Mr. Attahir studied composition, conducting and violin at the Paris Conservatoire. He has won many composition prizes, including the Concours Général, SACEM and the International Rostrum of Composers UNESCO.
Mr. Attahir’s $2,000 first prize is funded by a generous grant from the American Harp Society. De l’obscurité II will be required repertoire in Stage 3 of the 9th USA International Harp Competition to be held July 10-20, 2013 in Bloomington, Indiana. The score will be published and be available to contestants through Lyon & Healy Publications by March 1st.
The jury also wishes to congratulate the following composers whose works were in the final round:

• What is Danced…(and what is not) by Eric Chasalow (USA)
• Storm’s Morrow by Amit Gilutz (Israel)
• Chants by Viktor Hartobanu (Germany)
• Indiana by Andres Izmaylov (Russian Federation)
• Shindychew Dances by Stephen Taylor (USA)
• The Curl-up by Alan Thomas (United Kingdom)

The international jury for the Composition Contest consisted of: Composer, Dr. Claude Baker (USA), and the following distinguished harpists: Deborah Fleisher (USA), Alice Giles (Australia), Katerina Gima (Greece), Ruth Inglefield – Jury Chair (USA), Bridget Kibbey (USA) and Naoko Yoshino (Japan).