Harp
Combining the dynamism of the Dutch harp world’s passion for exploring the endless possibilities and features of the harp, and the historic tradition of the renowned French harp school, the CvA harp department offers an environment for students to excel in their musical and technical abilities, and find their unique musicianship and creative voice.
Guided by an international team of teachers with a wide range of expertise, each student is invited to explore and deepen their technique, expressivity and musicianship within a structured curriculum to develop their own individual musical identity. A wide range of styles and skills are covered, in order to prepare the students for a professional career.
Teachers
Sandrine Chatron section representative, principal subject, chamber music, audition training
Anneleen Schuitemaker score study
Constance Allanichistorical harps, methodology, harmony on the harp
The curriculum includes orchestral performance, weekly group performance classes, eight harp faculty student concerts a year, avant-garde music, chamber music, period performance practice, harmony on the harp, practice on the small harps, history of the harp and organology.
In addition to lessons from the harp faculty teachers, students receive masterclasses from renowned international guest artists, like Sivan Magen, Gwyneth Wentink, Isabelle Perrin, Masumi Nagasawa, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Frédérique Cambreling, and Miriam Overlach.
The bachelor’s degree programme focuses on preparing students for all aspects of their future professional life by perfecting their technical skills and musicality. Students take part in orchestral projects, class concerts, harp ensembles, chamber music events, and masterclasses. At the end of the bachelor programme, the students are capable of presenting a persuasive public recital with music from different style periods and are mostly able to continue their studies in a master programme.
Admission requirements
Audition candidates will be selected on the basis of a video recording to be submitted digitally via the application form. Recordings must be received by February 1st at the latest.
Audition repertoire for the video recording
Record a varied selection up to a maximum of 15 minutes from the following options:
· 1 study (e.g Bochsa, Dizzi, Godefroid, Tournier, Schmidt, Posse, Nadermann)
· 1 part of a sonata, or suite from the 18e century (e.g Bach, Händel, Scarlatti, Dussek) or 1st movement of a harp concerto ( e.g Händel, Mozart, Dittersdorf)
· 1 work of your own choice from the Romantic, Impressionism or Modernism periods
Audition repertoire for the live audition
The exam will require 15 minutes of playing time. Most of the repertoire must be played from memory. Scales and triads might be tested, sight-reading can also be asked for.
The programme to be prepared (duration: 25 minutes) includes:
· 1 study, different from the video round (e.g Bochsa, Dizzi, Godefroid, Tournier, Schmidt, Posse)
· a sonata, part of sonata or suite from the 18th century (e.g Bach, Händel, Scarlatti, Dussek) or the first movement of a harp concerto (e.g Haendel, Mozart, Dittersdorf)
· 2 works of the candidate's choice in contrasting styles (19th/20th/21st century)
If the candidate does not meet the requirements for the bachelor programme, he/she may be admitted to the preparatory course.
The student will concentrate on further mastering all aspects of harp playing. After two years, the student will be ready to enter the professional music world at the highest artistic level as a soloist, chamber player and orchestral musician. Within the principal subject, master students can specialize in certain repertoire, such as orchestral practice, historical harps, chamber music, contemporary music, or interdisciplinary projects, according to their personal projects.
Admission requirements
Audition candidates will be selected on the basis of a video recording to be submitted digitally via the application form. Recordings must be received by February 1st at the latest. The video repertoire must consist of a varied selection from the required audition repertoire up to a maximum 20 minutes.
Audition repertoire for the video
• a baroque or classical work (e.g. Bach, Händel, Rameau, Scarlatti, Mozart, Haydn, Krumpholz)
• a Romantic virtuoso piece
• an original piece of the 20th century (e.g. Hindemith, Britten, Fauré, Casella, Tailleferre)
Audition repertoire for the live audition
The exam will require up to 30 minutes of playing time. Most of the repertoire must be played from memory. The candidate must submit a repertoire list, with a proposed programme for the entrance examination, to the CvA study secretariat before 1 February.
The programme to be prepared (duration: 40 minutes) includes:
• a baroque or classical work (e.g Bach, Händel, Rameau, Scarlatti, Mozart, Haydn, Krumpholz, Spohr)
• a romantic virtuosic piece
• an original piece of the XXe century (e.g Hindemith, Britten, Fauré, Casella, Tailleferre)
• a contemporary piece written after 1960 (e.g Berio, Carter, Holliger, Petrassi)