A Serious Student

When the Curtis Institute of Music opened in 1924, Barber was one of its first students. Due to founder Mary Curtis Bok’s vast cultural background and contacts, the faculty at the school was highly regarded. Early in his studies at the institute, Barber was the first to have a triple major: studying piano with Isabelle Vengerova, voice with Emilio de Gogorza, and composition with Rosario Scalero. He focused intensely on his studies, choosing only a few friends and living a lonely life. It was at Curtis that he met some of the artists who would eventually launch his career, as even his fellow students admired and respected his talent. During this time, Sidney Homer’s unwavering mentoring persisted, and Homer continued to press for excellence and high standards in Barber’s work through their exchange of letters. While Barber worked at Rogers Rock, Lake George, during the summer of 1927, he produced eight songs on texts by James Stephens, many of which are published by G. Schirmer.