PROF. KAREL PATRAS HARP COMPETITION 2027
6th year, 14-17 January 2027
Competition is held by courtesy of Dagmar Patrasová and her son, Felix Slováček jr.,
under the auspices of
Ing. Marianna Čapková MBA,
the first Deputy Mayor of the Municipal district of Prague 6, the Councilor for education and Social Policy.
This year is dedicated to the 280th birth anniversary of the Czech harpist and composer
Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz (* 5.8.1747 in Prague ).
Promoter:
Základní umělecká škola Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
U Dělnického cvičiště 1/1100 B
Prague 6 – Břevnov
and Dům dětí a mládeže Praha 6
in cooperation with Klub přátel školy při ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
1. The goal of the competition is to promote and popularize harp playing, to support mutual meetings and to compare players’ skills of young harpists.
The competition is designed as one-round, open to all grades of various art schools, to students under the age of 26.
2. Competition categories:
| Category 1 | Born in 2019 and younger | 2 – 4 min | |||||||||
| Category 2 | Born in 2017 and 2018 | 3 – 5 min | |||||||||
| Category 3 | Born in 2015 and 2016 | 4 – 8 min | |||||||||
| Category 4 | Born in 2013 and 2014 | 5 – 10 min | |||||||||
| Category 5 | Born in 2010, 2011 and 2012 | 7 – 12 min | |||||||||
| Category 6 | Born in 2007, 2008 and 2009 | 10 – 16 min | |||||||||
| Category 7 | Born in 2006 – 2001 | 12 – 18 min | |||||||||
The competitors in categories 1-2 will play the lever harp. Categories 3 and higher are allowed to use only pedal harp.
Minimal duration limit for each category is mandatory.
The participants that do not follow this rule will be disqualified.
The maximum play limit may be exceeded by one minute only, after which the performance will be stopped with no influence on the number of marks in the evaluation given by the jury.
Competition performances are public.
There will be lever and pedal harps available by Lyon&Healy and Salvi. All harps are being lent by the courtesy of Mr. Antoni Gralak, the main sponsor of the competition. Participants may also play their own instruments, brought on their own expense and responsibility.
The order of competitors will be set during one of the Christmas concerts of ZUŠ Jana Hanuše by drawing a specific letter, from which all categories will start from. Each participant will have a possibility of warming up before his/her performance.
A seminar with the jury will take place immediately after the end of each category.
3. Repertoire:
Category1-2 -pieces of free choice within the specified duration limit
Category 3 – min. two pieces of different periods – baroque or classicism and music of 19th – 21st century.
Given that the mandatory compositions for categories 4 to 7 in this year’s competition are from the classical period, the remaining competition repertoire for the aforementioned categories is of each competitor’s choice.
Category- 4 – obligatory piece by J.-B. Krumpholtz: choose from these two options –
Category 5 – obligatory piece by J.-B. Krumpholtz: SONATA g moll, Scène de demi caractère, op.17, III. Allegro assai
Category 6 – obligatory piece by J.-B. Krumpholtz: VARIATIONS ON THE AIR “Jay du bon Tabac”
Category 7- obligatory piece by J.-B. Krumpholtz: I. SONATA a moll, Comme Scène Pathetiqué, op. 16, I. Allegro moderato. Espressivo.
All mandatory pieces must be without repetitions.
Compositions with the accompaniment of any other instrument are not allowed.
On the request of the jury, competitors are obliged to provide the sheet music of interpreted compositions.
PLAYING BY HEART is obligatory in all categories.
4. The jury will be set up of five renowned harp teachers chosen by the organizers of the competition. The jury’s decision is final and unquestionable.
The first award winners will obtain the title “competition laureate”.
The winner of the entire competition will be declared at the final concert.
5. Application
Together with the electronic application, send a link to a video where the participant plays one of the pieces from his/her competition program by October 31, 2026. It is forbidden to edit the recording in any way.
The form can be filled out below on www.patrasharpcompetition.cz . A copy of the participant’s passport or other birth certificate is required.
The selected participants will receive a message by November 15 and will then pay the participation fee with payment confirmation by November 30, 2026.
The price for the 1st – 2nd category is 80€, for the 3rd – 7th category 100€. – electronic payment to be sent on this IBAN account: CZ6101000000000004332061, SWIFT /BIC/ KOMBCZPPXXX with the variable symbol 14012027. The name of the school and surname of the competitor must be specified within the payment.
Sending the application serves as an agreement to the conditions of the contest and the eventual posting of names and photographs.
6. Rules of the competition are an integral part of the contest. (available on the internet page) www.patrasharpcompetition.cz.
Accomodation during the competition can be booked at the William Hotel ( Hellichova street, Malá Strana, Prague 1) at the email address: reservations@hotelwilliam.cz (sales manager Kateřina Knutová), where participants will receive a 25% discount after entering the password: PATRAS HARP