Hazel Friedman

Born in California, USA, pianist Hazel Friedman made her orchestral debut at age 17 with the San Diego Symphony. Hazel has won first prize in numerous solo competitions, including the 2020 Frank Huntington Beebe Fund to pursue graduate studies in Denmark. In 2023, she completed her candidate’s degree at The Royal Danish Academy of Music (DKDM). Now residing in Copenhagen, Hazel is an accompanist for DKDM with a specialization in accompaniment for brass and woodwinds, and also teaches both privately and for Byens Musikskole.

Recent collaborative work includes orchestral performances with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra. Moreover, on June 3rd, she and cellist Signe Bitsch performed the virtuosic Chopin cello sonata as part of a debut concert.

Hazel also works as a professional soloist locally and internationally. In May 2022, she made her radio debut on Chicago’s classical station 98.7 WFMT. Most recently, Hazel established her own solo recording project called A Piece A Month, where she records a classical piece each month, and on the first of the following month, publishes it. The first publication was released April 1st, 2026, and she plans to publish the eventual catalogue of recordings as her first solo album.

Hazel is excited and grateful to be a part of this year’s team of accompanists for the Carl Nielsen International Competition.