Students Reflect: Collaborative Pianist Francesco Barfoed

Wednesday, Jun 12, 2024
Juilliard Journal
Alumni
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Two people, identified in the accompanying caption, stand side by side, smiling warmly. Both are dressed in black attire, and they stand against a light-colored background, exuding a sense of camaraderie and joy.
Francesco Barfoed (right) and collaborative piano classmate Jinhee Park after 'The Rake’s Progress' in 2022

Reflecting on a Thrilling Year

Just after spring break, we asked students—some graduating, some staying on—to reflect about what they’d been doing lately, their hobbies, and some highlights of their time at Juilliard. In addition, some shared how scholarship support has helped them and what they’re doing this summer.

Francesco Barfoed, Music

Spring break
I went to Aiken, South Carolina, with four Juilliard singers for an American Songbook concert; then I came back to Newark, where my wife and I live, while my mother visited; and then I went back to South Carolina for an art song recital in Myrtle Beach.

Hobbies
Last summer, I acquired a paddleboard, and I can’t wait to go back on the water. I’m also an aviation enthusiast, and once I’m done with my doctoral coursework, I’ll hopefully have time to resume training for my glider pilot license.

Highlight
I played a cover run of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, and working with conductor Daniela Candillari and the Juilliard singers was truly magical.

Top takeaways

  • Recognizing that only if I’m honest to myself when I perform am I able to communicate honesty to the audience.
     
  • As my time as a student at Juilliard is coming to an end, I feel ready for my next steps. Being here has been the greatest catalyst for my career I could have imagined—and I’m eternally grateful for all the colleagues, teachers, mentors, and administrative staff who have guided me, with a special shoutout to my awesome teacher, Jonathan Feldman (Pre-College ’69; BM ’75, piano; faculty 1989–present), who has taught me so much while allowing me to be myself!

Scholarship support
Had I not had scholarships, it would have been impossible for me to come to Juilliard. Without Juilliard, I don’t want to imagine where I would be right now!

Collaborative piano doctoral student Francesco Barfoed (MM ’22), who’s from Copenhagen, will be giving chamber performances with Austin Symphony Orchestra musicians and working on Le nozze di Figaro with the Canto opera training program in Virginia this summer

These pieces are adapted from a special feature that originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of the Juilliard Journal