Two weeks • July 5–19, 2025

YAHS faculty and guest artists are some of the best harp performers and instructors in the world. 2024 faculty includes:

Susan Bennet Brady

Anastasia Pike

Mallory McHenry

Emily Levin

Ruth Bennett

Find out more about YAHS faculty here.

Tuition

Tuition: $3218 (2024)

All applicants to YAHS must submit the YAHS application fee. This fee is refundable only if a student is not accepted to the program.

The tuition fee includes:

• private lessons with a YAHS faculty member. A guest artists’ lesson will also be available for purchase
• lodging at Washington College, two students per room (lodging is required for all students)
• all meals
• supervision of students under age 18

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington College, and they are responsible for providing or renting their own pedal harps.

Please see the payment schedule and cancellation policy here.

Fees for Additional items:

Rental Harps

Limited rental harps are available for students who are flying to the seminar and cannot bring their own harp. If there are extra harps after all flyers have been accommodated, they will be offered to others first come first served.

If you would like to participate in our rental harp pool: $455 (2024)

If you would like to rent a bench: $38 (2024)

Airport Transportation

In addition to the application form, there are a number of other things you need to submit to fully apply to YAHS 2025. All of these can be found on our how to apply page.

• application
• pay application fee
• audition/scholarship materials submission
• teacher recommendation

All of these are due by March 15, 2025. 

Guidelines for submitting your YAHS audition recording

Audition recordings are required of:

• Applicants who have never attended YAHS:
• Any applicant applying for a scholarship, including former students:

Submit the following materials in MP3 format:

New students: two contrasting solos.

YAHS Scholarship: two contrasting pieces, one orchestra excerpt, one etude, one video essay.

Siochi Scholarship: two contrasting pieces, one orchestra excerpt, one etude, one video essay, financial statement.

Do’s and Don’ts of Auditions

• DO Submit an audition if you are a new YAHS Program applicant or are applying for a scholarship.
• DON’T submit an audition if you are a returning student who does not plan on applying for a scholarship. We don’t need this from you.
• DO submit your auditions as an MP3 recording.
• DON’T submit videos or YouTube links.
• DO submit recordings that demonstrate your current level with music from the standard solo classical harp repertoire.
• DON’T submit music from jazz or pop genres for your audition.
• DO contact our team if you have any questions.

About YAHS Scholarships

YAHS is pleased to offer several substantial scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are awarded based on both merit and need. All scholarship requests and materials are due by March, 15, 2025. Scholarship recipients are required to participate fully in the YAHS program—no exceptions for early or late arrival will be made. Scholarship recipients will be notified upon acceptance to the program if any money has been awarded.

The Young Artist’s Harp Seminar is excited to announce the new GrowthXel Foundation Scholarship. This full scholarship will be awarded to a deserving young African American harpist to attend the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar. This scholarship will cover the cost of tuition for the two-week YAHS program. Harp rental, bench rental, and airport shuttle fees will be covered as needed. This scholarship is merit based, and all African American applicants will be considered regardless of financial background. The student awarded this scholarship will only need to pay this application fee, their own transportation to the program, and for additional activities they would like to participate in.

The full Siochi Scholarship will be awarded to one student who demonstrates both a serious musical commitment and significant financial need. This scholarship provides complete coverage to attend the full YAHS program and includes: tuition, harp and bench rental, and airport shuttle. The student awarded this scholarship will only need to pay the application fee, their own transportation to the program, and for additional activities they would like to participate in. The Siochi Scholarship is not a work study scholarship.

Several partial work-study scholarships will also be awarded. These typically range from $100 to $1500, depending on funds available each year. Work study assignments include things like ushering for concerts, stage managing, setting up for classes, keeping common areas tidy, and helping with other areas of the program.

How to apply for a YAHS scholarship

Applicants who have applied to YAHS in full (including application form, application fee, teacher recommendation, and audition recording by the March 15, 2025 deadline) may also request scholarship assistance. Apply for scholarships using the YAHS Audition Materials and Scholarship Application form.

If you are a returning YAHS student applying for scholarship, you must submit all the normal application materials (two solos, teacher recommendation) as well as the additional materials.

In addition to the regular application materials, scholarship applicants must also submit:

Additional Audition Materials

In addition to the two contrasting solos required to apply to YAHS, additional audio audition recordings are mandatory of all scholarship applicants, even if you have attended YAHS in the past. If you are applying for a scholarship, please include the following audio audition materials in addition to the two contrasting solos:

• An etude demonstrating your current level of ability
• One or more orchestral excerpts
• any optional additional solos

Video Essay

For scholarship, you also need to submit a video essay. Your video essay should be no longer than two minutes and should describe to the YAHS scholarship committee why you are requesting a scholarship. Video essays should be uploaded as a private link to YouTube that will only be shared with the YAHS scholarship committee. Please include the following:

1. Introduce yourself; name, age, and harp background.
2. Tell us why you want to come to the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar.
3. Tell us three things you love about playing the harp.
4. Tell us briefly how financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to YAHS would be of value to your family (not required for GrowthXel Foundation Scholarship applicants).

Financial Statement (Siochi applicants only)

To be considered for the Siochi scholarship, you must submit everything above and also a financial statement that describes your specific financial need. This can either be provided in the application where you have space to write, or uploaded as a file to the application.

Do you have questions? Email us.

Theory Class Explained:

All YAHS participants complete a comprehensive theory test prior to arrival at the seminar to either test out of theory class, or be separated in Theory Level 1, or Theory Level 2. If a student tests out of Theory, they will be placed in an elective class or rewarded with extra practice time.

Theory Level 1 covers basic theory instruction such as:

• Reading the Grand Staff & Ledger Lines
• Intervals and Enharmonics
• Simple and Compound Meter
• Beat Duration

Theory Level 2 covers intermediate theory instruction such as:

• Key Signatures
• The Circle of Fifths
• Major, Minor, Augmented, and Diminished Intervals
• Scale & Chord Qualities
• Pedal Charts

18+ has a different experience

Our 18+ participants have a different experience at YAHS. In their free time, they are allowed to travel into town and experience their own excursions. They also have a later lights out time, as well are allowed to bring and keep a vehicle on campus. Our 18+ are eligible for work study, which means in return with assisting our staff with harp moving, tuning, and other tasks–they could be be awarded a portion of tuition. Our 18+ have the opportunity to experience all the tutelage provided at YAHS, while still being recognized as young adults in the field.

What skills do our students walk away with?

YAHS does have an annual curriculum that all students experience and benefit from. Something special about YAHS is that some faculty may rotate years of attendance, and our Guest Artist changes every year. Our Faculty and Guest Artist are tasked with providing classes and workshops specific to their niche strength in the field.

YAHS Regular Curriculum:

• Performance & Audience Etiquette
• Harp Ensemble
• Introduction to Orchestral Excerpts and Cadenzas
• Mock Audition
• Private Lessons on Solo Repertoire
• The Harp as a Profession

Sampling of YAHS Special Workshops (2024):

• Body Mapping
• What does it mean to be a Principal Harpist?
• Diversify your repertoire
• How our brain affects practicing
• Mental Health in Music

YAHS welcomes applications from students residing outside the U.S., and we will do everything possible to help international students have a positive, enriching experience while visiting our country. The Young Artist’s Harp Seminar and Competition has welcomed harpists from Asia, Europe, Central America, and Canada. Most of our international students have found YAHS to be the perfect place to hone both their music and English skills.

New this year we will be providing immediate acceptance for International students so that there is plenty of time to acquire a visa. Note: Notification of scholarship awards will not take place until after the March 15 application deadline.

Communication and translation

The official language at YAHS is English. Students are not required to be fully fluent in English, however they must be able to communicate basic needs to the instructors and counselors in English. A basic understanding of musical terms in English is also necessary. YAHS can provide some translation assistance during the application process, however once at YAHS students should be prepared to experience minimal or no translation assistance. Whenever possible, students will be assigned roommates with similar language skills.

Travel

We recommend getting started on your VISA application and flight arrangements immediately upon acceptance to YAHS. Accommodations can be made if you need to arrive early to the seminar.

Students traveling alone

YAHS will provide an escort for international minors traveling alone.

Students traveling with a parent or guardian

If you are an international student traveling with a parent or guardian, you will be responsible for your own transportation to Washington College. Dormitory housing at YAHS is available for students only, however there are many nearby lodging options for parents.

The full Siochi Scholarship will be awarded to one student who demonstrates both a serious musical commitment and significant financial need. This scholarship provides complete coverage to attend the full YAHS program and includes: tuition, harp and bench rental, and airport shuttle. The student awarded this scholarship will only need to pay the application fee, their own transportation to the program, and for additional activities they would like to participate in. The Siochi Scholarship is not a work study scholarship.

Several partial work-study scholarships will also be awarded. These typically range from $100 to $1500, depending on funds available each year. Work study assignments include things like ushering for concerts, stage managing, setting up for classes, keeping common areas tidy, and helping with other areas of the program.

How to apply for a YAHS scholarship

Applicants who have applied to YAHS in full (including application form, application fee, teacher recommendation, and audition recording by the March 15, 2025 deadline) may also request scholarship assistance. Apply for scholarships using the same form you use to submit audition materials, using this form.

If you are a returning YAHS student applying for scholarship, you must submit all the normal application materials (two solos, teacher recommendation) as well as the additional materials.

In addition to the regular application materials, scholarship applicants must also submit:

Additional Audition Materials

In addition to the two contrasting solos required to apply to YAHS, additional audio audition recordings are mandatory of all scholarship applicants, even if you have attended YAHS in the past. If you are applying for a scholarship, please include the following audio audition materials in addition to the two contrasting solos:

• An etude demonstrating your current level of ability
• One or more orchestral excerpts
• any optional additional solos

Video Essay

For scholarship, you also need to submit a video essay. Your video essay should be no longer than two minutes and should describe to the YAHS scholarship committee why you are requesting a scholarship. Video essays should be uploaded as a private link to YouTube that will only be shared with the YAHS scholarship committee. Please include the following:

1. Introduce yourself; name, age, and harp background.
2. Tell us why you want to come to the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar.
3. Tell us three things you love about playing the harp.
4. Tell us briefly how financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to YAHS would be of value to your family (not required for GrowthXel Foundation Scholarship applicants).

Financial Statement (Siochi applicants only)

To be considered for the Siochi scholarship, you must submit everything above and also a financial statement that describes your specific financial need. This can either be provided in the application where you have space to write, or uploaded as a file to the application.

Do you have questions? Email us.

To fully benefit from their intensive harp study at the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar, students are expected to come prepared with the following materials:

• Two recital pieces ready to perform (Memorization of recital pieces is strongly encouraged but not mandatory)
• At least one additional solo piece in-progress
• Two prepared orchestral excerpts
• At least one additional solo piece in-progress
• Preparation of harp ensemble music. (A comprehensive list of music to purchase and part assignments will be sent well in advance of the seminar.)
• etudes (optional)

We appreciate your support in helping your student meet these preparation goals. Please contact us if you have any questions about these preparation requirements.