Barbara Brown was brought up in Aberdeen and studied music at King’s College London followed by a postgraduate​ year at the National Centre for Orchestral Studies at Goldsmiths College. She spent several years freelancing in London before joining the BSO as principal piccolo in 1991, where she stayed until 1999 – 8 very happy years during which she not only toured America (twice), Germany, Prague and Spain (not to mention the west country and the far north of England), but also met and married her husband, a violinist in the orchestra. She was a founder member of the Bournemouth symphony orchestra cake club, which is still thriving today and not only feeds hungry musicians in rehearsal breaks, but also raises money for charity. Since leaving the BSO, Barbara has been a regular extra player but now works mostly with the orchestra of Welsh National Opera as well as teaching the flute at Southampton university. Barbara still lives in Poole with her husband and enjoys wild walks, yoga and being in her beach hut.