Julianna Banfe is a 21-year-old soprano, actress, and music director/arranger from Moorestown, New Jersey. She is currently pursuing a B.M. in Vocal Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with Deanne Meek and continues her training with Paulina Villarreal. She is a proud recipient of the Susan Cartland-Bode Scholarship and the Marianne Felton Scholarship, as well as a member of the Hutton Honors College. Julianna most recently made her operatic role debut as Celia in Chicago Summer Opera’s production of Handel’s Silla. There, she studied with Hungarian mezzo-soprano Viktoria Vizin and performed in a masterclass for Elizabeth Byrne. In 2025, Julianna will make her IU Opera Theater debut as part of the chorus for L'enfant et Les Sortilèges.

Having an extensive background in choral music, Julianna has performed with ensembles ranging from chamber choirs to large symphonic choruses. In 2024, Julianna joined the contemporary vocal ensemble NOTUS, under the direction of Dominick DiOrio. In 2022, she made her Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Music-Fest Rising Talents festival, performing Passereau’s “Il est bel et bon” as part of a vocal quartet. Julianna is also a proud alumna of the Philadelphia Girls Choir, with whom she has performed at venues such as The Academy of Music and The Kimmel Center, as well as in Spain, France, the UK, and Germany.

An advocate for crossover music, Julianna has also found a home in pop singing and arranging. Two months into her first year at college, she co-founded The Bloomingtones, an all-treble a cappella group at Indiana University. Since their foundation, The Bloomingtones have gone on to win “New Organization of the Year,” compete in the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella, perform at The Little 500, and participate in community outreach in the Bloomington area. Julianna currently serves as BT’s co-music director, where she teaches and arranges the group’s repertoire. You can find more of Julianna’s arrangements and “vocal stacks” on her TikTok and Instagram pages, as well as pop and musical theater covers.

Julianna is also pursuing a minor in business through IU’s Kelley School of Business. In the 2025-26 school year, she will be a student manager at the Jacob’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development, providing current students with the resources and support they need to build a sustainable career in the arts. Outside of music, Julianna enjoys crocheting, journaling, and cooking, and spending time with her friends, family, and dogs.