Barbara Harbach

Dr. Barbara Harbach serves as Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of the School of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She holds academic degrees from Pennsylvania State University (B.A.), Yale University (M.M.A.), Musikhochschule Frankfurt (Konzertdiplom), and Eastman School of Music (D.M.A.), with an honorary doctorate from Wilmington College (2002).

Her research focuses on historical and contemporary women composers, music composition, and performance practices. She has composed over 500 works including symphonies, operas, ballets, and choral pieces. Her work explores themes of gender representation in classical music and innovative adaptations of Baroque repertoire.

Harbach pioneered Women in the Arts-St. Louis, a program showcasing women's contributions to artistic fields through 800+ events. She has received numerous awards including the Missouri Citizen for the Arts Award and the Grand Center Visionary Award. Her compositions are published by Hester Park, Robert King Music, and Naxos Records.

As a performer, she has toured globally as an organist/harpsichordist and hosted the television series Palouse Performance. She edits WomenArts Quarterly Journal and maintains active roles in music adjudication and reviewing.