Kimberly Barber

Job Description

I teach voice at the university level, and am also in a leadership role in the Faculty of Music at Laurier. I also teach courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level, focusing on practical skills building for musicians.

Relevant School Subjects

• Arts

Areas of Expertise

• undefined

Career Story

I started university in a general arts degree, planning to go into law, but quickly shifted gears after my first year when I missed doing music more regularly. I auditioned for a university music program and was accepted and never looked back! I did a graduate level diploma in opera, then did a stint as a "young artist" at the Canadian Opera Company, worked as a freelance artist and then landed a gig at the Frankfurt Opera in Germany, where I worked for 5 years. I did crash courses in German to bring myself up to speed, and continued working as a freelance artist in concert, opera and recording (I recorded an opera at Abbey Road Studios in London!) for the next many years, singing internationally. In 2001, I came with my family to Canada to see if we all liked living here, and at that time a teaching job in music came up at Laurier. I got the job, and we moved to Waterloo Region. I've been teaching at Laurier since 2002, and have now moved more into leadership, taking on the role of Associate Dean in 2017. I will be the Interim Dean in the Faculty of Music starting in July 2026.