Barbara Morris was born in Albuquerque, NM, and as a child watched her father, Richard Scalf, play the violin in the Albuquerque Symphony. Thus, at an early age, she knew that playing the violin was what she wanted to do.

After high school, Barbara played in the Festival of Three Cities Orchestra in Vienna, Austria, and won a college scholarship for her solo performance. Barbara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of New Mexico.

Barbara played with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra for 37 years and looks forward to the inaugural season of the New Mexico Philharmonic. She also plays with The Santa Fe Symphony, and the San Juan Symphony in Durango, Colorado.

Barbara also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of New Mexico specializing in Learning Disabilities and Full Inclusion classrooms. She teaches in the Albuquerque Public Schools and was selected as the APS Teacher of the Month in September of this year. She currently teaches history at Grant Middle School. Barbara is also an adjunct professor for the University of New Mexico and teaches education classes to under-grad and graduate level teacher candidates.

The music gene continues on in Barbara’s family. Her son, Thomas, has a successful rock band named the “Coma Recovery.” Their third commercial CD was released in July of 2011, and they have traveled extensively throughout the United States.