• The contest is open to composers of all nationalities and all ages.

• Previous winners are not eligible, but previous applicants who have not been awarded (including finalists) may apply again.

• The work must be between six (6) and eight (8) minutes in duration.

• The work must be for solo pedal harp, though other instruments may be included if played by the harpist. Electronics are permitted if no additional personnel are required and the equipment used is inexpensive, portable, and readily available to harpists worldwide.

• The work must be unpublished, un-awarded, and not have been recorded for commercial distribution. The work cannot be available for purchase anywhere.

Questions? Check the Frequently Asked Questions page.

September 10, 2027: Deadline to submit your application

• Online application form requires your anonymous PDF score in US Letter size (8.5in x 11in, 0.5in margins). Please include the title only in the attachment name. The score should not show the name of the composer anywhere. Please note that the jury will refer to scores by title only. Program notes are acceptable, as long as they do not include clues to the identity of the composer and are included in the same PDF document as the score. The PDF should be high quality and ready to be published. Immediately after the announcement of the winning composition, the winner will be asked to send an identical PDF with the composer's name added, which will be used for printing by the publisher.

October 10, 2027: Deadline to submit your MP3 recording

• MP3 recording of submitted work played by a harpist sent as an attachment to an email to ricc@usaihc.org. Please include the title only in the attachment name; however, include the title, the composer's name, and the name of the recorded harpist in the body of the email message. The MP3 file should not show the name of the composer or harpist anywhere. Digital or MIDI recordings will not be accepted. Scores submitted without a recording will not be considered.

Additional Procedures:

• A distinguished panel including harpists and a composer will select one winning composition. The decisions of the jury are final.

• The jury may request to contact composers about their work.

• RICC respects the copyrights of composers. No score will be distributed without its composer's knowledge. All PDF files and MP3 recordings will be deleted from our records after the following USA International Harp Competition has concluded (June 2028).

• While RICC names a winning composition, Lyon & Healy Publications negotiates and manages the publication contract. The contest winner may negotiate copyrights with Lyon & Healy Publications. In many previous cases, the winning composer has retained intellectual property rights when their work is published.

• Recommended resource for information on notation, effects, etc.: Writing for the Pedal Harp by Ruth K. Inglefield and Lou Anne Neill, second edition published by Vanderbilt Music (www.vanderbiltmusic.com). All royalties from Writing for the Pedal Harp go to the USAIHC.

Questions? Check the Frequently Asked Questions page.

• $2,000 USD American Harp Society Prize

• Inclusion in 14th USA International Harp Competition's Stage III required repertoire (all eight performances by semi-finalists will be live-streamed and posted on USAIHC’s YouTube)

• Score published by Lyon & Healy Publications

Questions? Check the Frequently Asked Questions page.

The online application will open here on January 15, 2027.