Description:
Talk by Barbara Hill
New Zealand-born flautist Barbara Hill has lived in Berlin, Germany, for most of her life. After graduating from the University of Auckland, an Arts Council bursary enabled her to continue studies in London at the Guildhall School of Music and in Berlin with James Galway. Her first orchestral position was with the Staatstheater Klagenfurt, Austria. She later returned to Berlin, married a Berliner, had two sons and stayed there for another 48 years.
Barbara has had an extensive career as an orchestral and chamber musician, a teacher and ensemble coach at the state music school in Berlin, and as a soloist on international tours. At festivals in northern and eastern Germany, she was a regular performer with numerous ensembles, including the Berlin Chamber Orchestra. From 2011 to 2018, she toured China annually as a solo flute with the New Symphony Orchestra Berlin. In various duo and trio collaborations, she toured Italy, Poland, New Zealand, South Korea and China, and was awarded a guest professorship from the University of Shenyang after giving a series of concerts and masterclasses. She recently moved back to New Zealand and now lives in Wellington.
On Wednesday, 20 May 2026, we shall hear from our member, Barbara Hill, about what led a young Kiwi flautist with no German-language knowledge to Berlin in the first place and what kept her there for decades. Barbara will answer these questions and many more – and we may even hear some lovely music…
This will be an informal roundtable event with the opportunity to ask questions and have discussions in English and German.
This will be held at the Von Zedlitz Common Room 606 at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, 28 Kelburn Parade, Kelburn, at 6:00 pm. Culinary contributions in the form of food and/or drinks are very welcome. Please RSVP by emailing us.
Location:
Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
Kelburn Parade, Kelburn, Wellington 6012
Von Zedlitz Common Room 606 (Level 6)
Date:
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Time:
6:00 PM
Goethe Society Wellington 