Barb Valente grew up surrounded by music, and it is her passion. The youngest of 4, her older siblings all played at least one instrument, as well as singing. She began taking violin lessons at age 4, started piano at the age of 7, and dabbled with other instruments throughout the years, including clarinet, guitar, mandolin, and other stringed members of the orchestral family. Barb competed in violin and piano performance throughout high school, winning both state and national awards. She performed with multiple symphonies and orchestras, acting as soloist, principal section leader, and concert master on many occasions.
Earning a music scholarship to Pepperdine University in 1996, Barb continued her music education there, taking lessons and performing with the Tony award-winning Pepperdine University Orchestra. Her senior year, she joined a blues/funk band to explore a broader musical repertoire and allow for more personal musical creativity. Upon graduation, the band toured nationally for 3 months, and then Barb began teaching at a children's music academy. She ultimately opened her own teaching studio, first in the Los Angeles area, and then in Colorado, focusing on violin, piano, and beginning voice instruction. During this time, she also did studio work, performed with other smaller ensembles/groups, and performed for weddings and events.
Over the past decade, Barb has played in many different groups of multiple styles of music. Her current project is M Squared: a jazz fusion trio that incorporates loop technology into their original music to build layers of sound, both in a studio and live setting. She also currently performs with the Austin Wahlert Band, the Jeff Brinkman Band, as well as doing solo work for weddings and events, and composing new music.
Barb currently resides in Lyons, CO with her family and, when she's not doing music, loves hiking, gardening, skiing, snowshoeing, camping, or just about anything that keeps her outdoors!
Earning a music scholarship to Pepperdine University in 1996, Barb continued her music education there, taking lessons and performing with the Tony award-winning Pepperdine University Orchestra. Her senior year, she joined a blues/funk band to explore a broader musical repertoire and allow for more personal musical creativity. Upon graduation, the band toured nationally for 3 months, and then Barb began teaching at a children's music academy. She ultimately opened her own teaching studio, first in the Los Angeles area, and then in Colorado, focusing on violin, piano, and beginning voice instruction. During this time, she also did studio work, performed with other smaller ensembles/groups, and performed for weddings and events.
Over the past decade, Barb has played in many different groups of multiple styles of music. Her current project is M Squared: a jazz fusion trio that incorporates loop technology into their original music to build layers of sound, both in a studio and live setting. She also currently performs with the Austin Wahlert Band, the Jeff Brinkman Band, as well as doing solo work for weddings and events, and composing new music.
Barb currently resides in Lyons, CO with her family and, when she's not doing music, loves hiking, gardening, skiing, snowshoeing, camping, or just about anything that keeps her outdoors!
