Francesco Barfoed is hailed as a pianist with “fertile imagination” (New York Classical) and “silky movements across the keys” (Seen and Heard International).

 

Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Barfoed performs in the United States and Europe with singers and instrumentalists alike. In 2025 he appeared in Carnegie Hall for the Gerda Lissner Foundation Winners Concert, premiered CROSSING BORDERS, a new song cycle by award-winning composer Jake Heggie, and performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and The Morgan Library and Museum. His playing, described as “simply marvelous, from first note to last” (Oberon’s Grove), has been heard at Carnegie Hall’s Citywide series, NYFOS, Caramoor, Opera Saratoga, Berkshire Opera Festival, as well as the Cosmos Club in D.C., Folly Theater in Kansas City, Usedomer Musikfestival in Germany, and on WQXR (New York’s Classical Music Radio Station). Barfoed also partners with principal string players of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and returned to Texas in June 2025 for their chamber music series.

 

Barfoed has taken home competition prizes, including 1st prize in the Copenhagen Lied-Duo Competition 2021, 2nd prize at the Naumberg Foundation International Vocal Competition with Megan Moore, and played first-prize winning performances with singers for Young Concert Artists. He works extensively in opera and has assisted Juilliard with numerous productions, including co-arranging and performing Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress for two pianos. He has been on the coaching faculty at Saluzzo Opera Academy in Italy and Canto Vocal Programs in Virginia and was a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival. In 2025, he will be serving on the jury for the Gerda Lissner Art Song Competition in New York City.

 

Barfoed is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Juilliard School, where he also completed his master’s degree. He holds degrees from The Royal Danish Academy of Music and Rutgers University and has completed additional training at SongFest and Carnegie Hall’s SongStudio. The topic of his doctoral dissertation is on Danish composer Rued Langgaard and his songs, and he specializes in coaching singers in the Danish language.