Juilliard School

The Juilliard School appears briefly but significantly in the account of Elfrieda Von Riesen’s early musical career. A special scholarship and the international opportunities that followed mark the promise surrounding her as a young pianist, even as a Christmas reunion reveals how little outward success could ease her distress.

Mention and Context

When Yolandi Von Riesen recalls being fourteen, she describes Elfrieda returning home for Christmas after recently attending the Juilliard School on what she calls some kind of special scholarship. The narrative does not specify the scholarship’s terms, the duration of Elfrieda’s attendance, or details of her studies. The school enters through this concise account of her achievement rather than through a scene set at the institution.

Career Promise

The reference places the Juilliard School within a sudden expansion of Elfrieda’s prospects. She had a top agent and performances lined up around the world; her training and professional momentum make her success visible as more than family pride. The school serves as a marker of the serious musical opportunities opening to her, although the book does not describe its teachers, curriculum, or institutional life.

Achievement and Distress

That promise contrasts sharply with Elfrieda’s condition during the same Christmas visit. In the bathroom, she cried inconsolably and resisted joining the family’s holiday dinner, describing the celebration as an appearance of happiness and a performance. Yolandi pleaded with her to come to the table, while Elfrieda wanted instead to escape with her sister to a pool hall. The juxtaposition does not make the Juilliard School the cause of Elfrieda’s distress; rather, it shows that exceptional training and imminent professional success did not protect her from it.