Biography

Barbara Rollins was raised by musical parents in Bellevue, WA. She began playing piano at the age of 2, was an early prodigy, and was born with perfect pitch. She was greatly influenced by her parents, who taught music and played dance halls and parties around the Northwest, playing Sinatra, boogie-woogie, and stride piano.

Barbara studied piano performance in classical and Jazz piano through master teachers at Cornish Institute, Central Washington University, and Seattle Pacific University. She also studied Classical piano privately with Joseph Levine, Lowell Roddenberry, and Marcielle Mack and Jazz piano under ECM recording artist Gary Peacock and Jazz Master and author and teacher Jerry Gray. Barbara has received accolades and many awards from piano competitions throughout the state of Washington.

Throughout her over 40-year career, she has become well known in the local scene, playing in many hotels, restaurants, and corporate events throughout the Pacific Northwest and primarily in greater Seattle. She has backed vocalists of the Seattle Opera and toured throughout Canada as a solo pianist and accompanist to various Jazz vocalists. She is currently in great demand teaching piano to students of all experience levels and ages and playing private events as solo piano and with a jazz quintet in Kirkland, WA. 

Throughout her over 40-year career, she has become well known in the local scene, playing in many hotels, restaurants, and corporate events throughout the Pacific Northwest and primarily in greater Seattle. She has backed vocalists of the Seattle Opera and toured throughout Canada as a solo pianist and accompanist to various Jazz vocalists. She has also served on the advisory board for the Northwest Chopin Foundation.