Cory Barnfield

Cory Barnfield performs frequently with the Kentucky Opera and the Louisville Orchestra. He recently performed with Teddy Abrams conducting Walton’s Façade and was saxophone soloist on Milhaud’s Creation of the World. Performances with the Kentucky Opera included saxophone soloist on Massenet Werther and Pevin’s A Streetcar Named Desire and the brand new Opera, Enemies : a Love Story. Furthermore he has played most of the standard orchestral repertoire with saxophone and orchestra.

Barnfield has also been a soloist with several bands and orchestras throughout the region. His performances have included Aria and Allegro for soprano sax by Pascuzzi and most recently Heiden’s Diversion for alto sax and band. Barnfield has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe.

He has performed at several regional, national, and international conferences including the Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival, North American Saxophone Alliance conferences held in Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Arizona and Iowa, the World Saxophone Congress held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the United States Navy Band Symposium in Fairfax, Virginia.

He has also appeared as a soloist with the Murray State University Orchestra, Murray State University Wind Ensemble, Southern Illinois Concert Band, Indiana State University Wind Ensemble and the Indiana University Southeast Concert Band. Mr. Barnfield was also principal saxophonist with the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles International Youth Wind Orchestra in San Obispo, California and Lucerne, Switzerland.

As a recording artist, he can be heard on labels such as Mark Custom Recordings, Amos Recordings in Switzerland, New Dynamic Records and Centaur Records.

Barnfield has championed new music by commissioning pieces from composers such as David Maslanka, Perry Goldstein, Daniel Powers and Peter Felice. Barnfield released his debut CD Journey on the New Dynamics Record label and his second album Out of This World is released on Centaur Records. Pequena Czarda from his first album made BBC’s essential classical saxophone recordings. His second album won a silver medal for outstanding achievement from Global Music Awards.

Barnfield teaches in the Jefferson County Public School System and is on faculty with the Indiana University Southeast Department of Music. In 2018, he was nominated as a Grammy Music Educator. Mr. Barnfield has also given numerous clinics at middle schools, high schools and colleges throughout the Midwestern United States. He also maintains an active studio of instruction for private students.

Cory Barnfield wins 3rd place in The American Prize 2024 in the instrumental professional solo category. This included all woodwinds and brass across the United States.