Israeli harpist Sivan Magen has been named the winner of the 16th International Harp Contest in Israel (October 9-23) following his final performance of the Henriette Renie Concerto for Harp and Orchestra at the Henri Crown Hall at the Jerusalem Theater. With 23 participants this year, FranceÂ’s Cecile Maudire came in second place as recipient of the Rosalind G. Weindling Prize (U.S. $6,000) and JapanÂ’s Etsuko Chida finished third as the winner of the Rachel Graetz Memorial Prize (U.S. $4,000).
Born in Jerusalem, Sivan studied piano with Professor Benjamin Oren and Talma Cohen. He also studied the harp with Irena Kaganovsky at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. After completing his military service in 2001 as an “Outstanding Musician,” he continued his studies with Germaine Lorenzini in France and later with Isabelle Moretti at the Paris Conservatory, from which he graduated in June 2005. He is currently studying at Julliard in New York City with Nancy Allen.
Having won the prestigious “Premier Prix” of the Paris Conservatory, Silvan has performed at Le Trianon and Salle Gaveau in Paris and the Kfar-Blum Festival in Israel. He has recorded for Israeli radio and television and participated in the 2006 Marlboro Music Festival. In addition, he has appeared as a soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony and Israeli Sinfonietta and performed the Israeli premier of the Maciej Malecki Double Concerto with Catherine Michel. Sivan has also performed as guest during the Kibbutz Youth Orchestra’s 2005 tour of Germany and was the past winner of the Academia Chigiana Special Award, the Paul Ben-Haim Competition Special Award and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship.
As the first-prize winner Sivan received a custom Lyon & Healy Style 23 Gold Concert harp valued at $55,000 and an invitation to play with the Israel Symphony Orchestra in Rishon Lezion near Tel Aviv. The Victor Salvi Foundation provides the winner an opportunity for a debut performance at LondonÂ’s Wigmore Hall, ChicagoÂ’s Lyon & Healy Hall, a cosponsored debut with the Israel-International Harp Contest at Merkin Hall in New York City, and other performances worldwide. The foundation also provides a debut recording for the winner on the Egan Records label.
The gala opening concert for the competition was held at the Tel Aviv Opera House and featured performances by past first-prize winner Varvara Ivanova (Russia) and Julie Bunzel (Israel), second-prize winner at the 15th Harp Contest in Israel. They played with the Israel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Gil Shohat.
Held once every three years, the International Harp Contest in Israel is considered to be one of the worldÂ’s most prestigious international competitions.
