Barbara Jane Gilby knew from a relatively early age that she wanted to be a violinist. After study in Canberra and Boston USA, she played in orchestras in Germany before taking up the position of Concertmaster of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra which she held for 15 years. While in Tasmania she directed the Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players and was soloist for the ensemble’s ARIA Award winning recording of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”.
2000-2012 saw Barbara teaching violin at the Australian National University, until the university dismantled its instrumental teaching program. Since then she has taught violin privately and participated in a number of ensembles including Canberra Strings, of which she is the director. As well as playing violin, Barbara keeps in touch with the viola regularly.