Barbara Kolb

Barbara Kolb
Black and white publicity shot of a smiling young woman with no apparent makeup, shoulder-length, straight dark hair, and a striped shirt
Kolb in the 1970s
Born(1939-02-10)February 10, 1939
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 2024(2024-10-21) (aged 85)
North Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
EducationHartt College of Music
Occupations
  • Composer
  • academic teacher
OrganizationsThird Street Music School Settlement
AwardsRome Prize

Barbara Kolb (February 10, 1939 – October 21, 2024) was an American composer and educator, the first woman to win the Rome Prize in musical composition. Her music features sound masses of colorful textures, impressionistic sounds and atonal vocabulary, with influences from literary and visual arts. She taught at the Third Street Music School Settlement, Rhode Island College and Eastman School of Music.