About Barbara
New Zealand-born flautist Barbara Hill spent most of her career in Berlin as a freelance musician, chamber-music performer and teacher. She now lives in Wellington.
Studies and career
After graduating from Auckland University Conservatorium of Music, Barbara continued her studies in London at the Guildhall School of Music with Peter Lloyd and William Bennett.
A scholarship enabled her to pursue post-graduate study in Switzerland, after which she moved to Berlin to study with James Galway, then solo flute with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
In Berlin, Barbara became an established freelance musician, a solo and chamber-music performer, and a teacher of flute and chamber music at the Berlin State Music School.
As a recital artist in various duo and trio collaborations, she has performed concerts in Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, New Zealand, South Korea and China, and taught flute master classes in South Korea and China, where she was awarded a guest professorship at the University of Shenyang. From 2011 to 2018 she travelled to China every year on orchestral tours as principal flute.
At festivals and summer-concert series in Northern Germany she was a regular performer with the Syrinx Trio, the Consortium Artis Wind Quintet, the Hill/Reetz Flute and Harp Duo and the Baroque and Blue Quintet, among numerous other ensembles and orchestras such as the New Symphony Orchestra Berlin and the Berlin Chamber Orchestra.
Composers and recordings
Several composers have dedicated flute compositions to her, including works for solo flute and alto flute by Argentinian composer José Cibils. The Trio for flute, horn and harp by Gisberth Näther was premiered by Barbara and colleagues in Potsdam in 2008. In 2024 the Aurum Trio commissioned Fragrantissima for flute, cello and harp from New Zealand composer Anthony Ritchie.
Her two CDs of works for flute and guitar with Laurie Randolph, “The Sea …and Other Compositions” and “Carmen and Other Surprises”, have been widely acclaimed. You can listen to tracks from “Carmen and Other Surprises” below.
Ensemble coaching
As an ensemble coach she trained and nurtured numerous flute ensembles at summer music courses in Germany, and established the flute choir “Flötissimo” at the Berlin State Music School. The ensemble enjoyed yearly rehearsal phases at the Landesmusikakademie Hessen near Frankfurt, and several rehearsal and concert trips to Italy.
Recent years
Barbara has regularly attended annual master classes given by Davide Formisano, Denis Bouriakov, Michael Cox and Felix Renggli at the Brahms Conservatorium in Hamburg. These have been a source of inspiration and have shaped her clear perspectives on sound production and interpretation for flute players, reflected in her arrangements for flute and alto flute of works from the classical violin and viola repertoire and of opera arias from the bel canto era.
Recordings
Tracks from Barbara's album for flute and guitar with Laurie Randolph. Pick a track to listen here; the player comes from YouTube.
Flute lessons, ensembles and concerts
After a long and inspiring stay in Berlin, Barbara has moved back to New Zealand and now offers flute lessons, ensemble playing and chamber music performances.