Role

:

Performer

 

Robert Barefield was born on May 12, 1955, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Barefield began playing the piano at the age of four and showed a natural talent for music. He later learned to play the violin and the viola, which became his primary instruments. Barefield attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, where he studied under the renowned violinist Fredell Lack. He then went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1977. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan, where he earned his Master of Music degree in 1979. Barefield began his professional career as a violist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1979. He quickly established himself as a talented musician and was soon promoted to the position of assistant principal violist. He remained with the Houston Symphony for 12 years, during which time he also performed as a soloist with the orchestra. In 1991, Barefield was appointed principal violist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He held this position for 10 years and was widely regarded as one of the finest violists in the country. During his tenure with the Detroit Symphony, Barefield performed as a soloist with the orchestra on numerous occasions and also served as a guest artist with other orchestras around the world. Barefield's career as a soloist and chamber musician has been equally impressive. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated with some of the most renowned conductors of our time, including Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and Sir Simon Rattle. In addition to his work as a violist, Barefield is also an accomplished conductor. He has conducted many orchestras around the world, including the Houston Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico. He has also served as the music director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Chamber Orchestra. Barefield's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1986, he was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is given annually to outstanding young musicians. He has also been the recipient of the Naumburg Viola Competition, the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, and the William Primrose International Viola Competition. Barefield has recorded extensively throughout his career, with over 20 albums to his credit. His recordings have received critical acclaim and have been praised for their technical brilliance and emotional depth. Some of his most notable recordings include his performances of the Brahms and Mozart viola quintets, the Bartok viola concerto, and the Shostakovich viola sonata. In addition to his work as a performer and conductor, Barefield is also a dedicated teacher. He has taught at many of the world's leading music schools, including the Juilliard School, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently a professor of viola at the University of North Texas, where he has been on the faculty since 2001. Throughout his career, Robert Barefield has been a passionate advocate for classical music.

More....