Two weeks • July 4–18, 2026

YAHS faculty and guest artists are some of the best harp performers and instructors in the world. 2026 faculty includes:

Susan Bennett Brady
Jaymee Haefner
Eleanor Kirk
Mallory McHenry

Hannah Cope Johnson, 2026 Guest Artist

Find out more about YAHS faculty here.

Tuition

Tuition: $3994

All applicants to YAHS must submit the $95 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
• lodging, two students per room 
• all meals and activities
• supervision of students under age 18

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

Other Fees:

Rental Harps

Limited rental harps are available for students who are flying to the seminar and cannot bring their own harp. Each student will have their own rental harp. Renters will be responsible for purchasing replacement strings as needed during the seminar.

Rental Harp Fee: $TBA
Rental Bench Fee: $40

Airport Shuttle

YAHS will be running an airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport ONLY for students flying. Flights will need to be approved by a YAHS representative before booking to ensure it works with the shuttle schedule.

One-Way Shuttle Fee: $TBA
Round-Trip Shuttle Fee: $TBA

Guest Artist Private Lessons

Students will get the opportunity to schedule a lesson with our guest artist while they are on campus. There will be an additional lesson fee. Lesson spots will be first come, first serve.

Special Activities

There will likely be a special activity that YAHS students will have the option of participating in! In 2019, we went zip-lining!

Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy

Upon acceptance to the YAHS program, a deposit of 50% is due. Once we receive your first half tuition payment, a limited space in our dormitory is reserved for you. Payment plans are available upon request. In the unfortunate event you must cancel, please notify us immediately in writing by e-mail. The following cancellation policy applies:

Application Fee: non-refundable.

Before May 1: fifty percent of first half tuition is refundable; harp rental and shuttle fees are fully refundable.

Between May 1 and May 31: no refund of first half tuition; fifty percent refund on harp rental and shuttle fees; second half tuition is fully refundable.

After June 1: no refunds of any kind will be given.

In addition to the application form, there are a number of other things you need to submit to fully apply to YAHS 2026. All of these can be found on our how to apply page.

• application
• pay $95 application fee
• audition/scholarship materials submission
• teacher recommendation

All of these are due by March 15, 2026. 

Returning students only need to submit an application and pay the application fee unless you are applying for a scholarship. 

Guidelines

Video 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 the form of a link to a video recording. Submissions can be unlisted Youtube links, sharable Google Drive/Dropbox links, or something similar.

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, and 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 videos via unlisted YouTube links or sharable Google Drive/Dropbox links.
• DON’T submit private Youtube links or links that require a password or sharing approvals to be requested.
• 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 scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are awarded based on both merit and need. All scholarship requests and materials are due by March, 15, 2026. 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 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 YAHS airport shuttle (as needed). 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. 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 deadline) may also request scholarship assistance. Apply for scholarships using the YAHS Audition Materials and Scholarship Application.

If you are a returning YAHS student applying for scholarship, you must submit all the normal application materials (teacher recommendation and audition/scholarship form)

Additional Audition Materials

In addition to the two contrasting solos required to apply to YAHS, additional video audition recordings are mandatory of all scholarship applicants, even if you have attended YAHS in the past. Submissions can be unlisted Youtube links, sharable Google Drive/Dropbox links, or something similar. If you are applying for a scholarship, please include the following video 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. Video essays 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 link the same as other recording submissions. 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.

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 Auditions
• Concerto Competition
• 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, Middle East, 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.

We provide 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 Kenyon College. Dormitory housing at YAHS is available for students only, however there are many nearby lodging options for parents.

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.