Barbara Higbie, ‘79
Distinguished Achievement Award

Barbara Higbie ’79 is a Grammy‑nominated, Bammy Award‑winning pianist, composer, violinist, singer, songwriter, and multi‑instrumentalist with numerous solo albums to her name. She made history as the first female instrumentalist signed to Windham Hill Records and has performed on all seven continents with artists including Bonnie Raitt, The Kronos Quartet, Pete Seeger, Carlos Santana, Linda Tillery, Holly Near, and Teresa Trull. Her work appears on more than 100 albums, and she has studied traditional music around the world since beginning her professional career at age 17.

With Darol Anger, Barbara recorded Tideline, one of Windham Hill’s earliest successful albums, and led a group recording at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Her album Signs of Life was named one of the top ten albums of the year by The Washington Post.

Beyond her musical achievements, Barbara is a dedicated community leader. She serves as Co‑Chair of the nonprofit Board of Freight and Salvage in Berkeley—one of the nation’s premier music venues and educational centers—and is known for producing and curating albums and performances that elevate other artists, especially women. Recently, she curated the sold‑out 4 Pianists concerts featuring Adrienne Torf, Mary Watkins, Tammy Lynne Hall, and herself, even producing a new album for Torf to ensure all performers had fresh work to share.

Barbara’s extraordinary artistry is matched by her generosity of spirit, making her a transformative force in both the music world and her community.