Principal

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 active playing at various summer music festivals across the northeast, and is on Faculty at Wintergreen Academy of Music in Wintergreen, VA.