Horn Faculty
Instrumental Studies
The Hartt Schoolbahill@hartford.edu F 110 https://www.barbarahillhorn.com
Education
MM, The Juilliard School
BM, The University of Western Ontario
Barbara Hill has been Principal Horn with the Hartford Symphony since 2008. During her tenure she has been featured as a soloist several times, most recently alongside her horn section colleagues in Schumann’s heroic concerto Koncertstuck for 4 horns. Barbara frequently performs with The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra, and has been a guest performer with many North American ensembles including Calgary Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, Utah Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, and Boston Philharmonic. She began her career as Acting Principal and Second Horn with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2000-2002) after receiving her Master of Music from The Juilliard School and her Bachelor of Music from The University of Western Ontario. In addition to her orchestral career, Barbara has been fortunate to spend time in recording studios in Vancouver and NYC, as well as in the pit playing for National tours of Broadway shows. Chamber music opportunities have her working alongside many of her colleagues in the HSO and at Hartt, presenting recitals of brass and wind music. As an educator, Barbara is on faculty at The Hartt School, Central Connecticut State University, and has taught and presented masterclasses across the New England area, including NYU, UMass Amherst, and Western CT State University. She is a dedicated teacher, and has worked with all ages from beginner to adult. Equally comfortable playing piano (which was her first instrument), Barbara can be seen accompanying her students during studio class as well as in recital. In the summer months, she is seen playing at various summer music festivals across the northeast, and is on Faculty at Wintergreen Academy of Music in Wintergreen, VA.
I believe that every child has a right to make beautiful music. They have the right to feel the the transformative power that comes with making beautiful music and to have the ability to transform others with their skills.
It is challenging and rewarding to continuously work to keep students engaged and to make them feel successful, especially when the opportunity to participate in a vast number of different activities is available. As a parent, I can attest to the desire of wanting your child(ren) to be able to do whatever interests them, to be able to say “yes.” My children have the added bonus of having parents who are musically inclined, so I am quick to say “yes” to all things musical, but the struggle to feel successful is still very real. My belief is that a teacher’s job is to show that success is attainable, even when a challenge is presented, and that success comes not only in the form of being able to play a piece well, but in being prepared to do the work; in understanding the amount of organization, dedication, and practice it takes to learn a skill. Of course, this can all be done with a fair amount of humor and humility!