About The Artist

Barbara Ryan was born in Tacoma, Washington and grew up on the San Francisco Peninsula. She studied music at San Francisco State University, then graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Communication. She also holds an M.S. in Administration degree from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Most of her career was spent in public relations. She worked for a non-profit at Boston University, then for the Lake Washington School District, and then for Planned Parenthood of Delaware among other organizations. Her favorite job was as a member of the Bellingham City Council for 12 years.

Barbara was a founding member of the Board of the Bellingham Festival of Music and currently serves on the Board of the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra.

She has a daughter, Dr. Rachel Prentice, who is a professor in the Science and Technology Studies Department at Cornell University. Barbara enjoys piano, particularly chamber music. She and her husband Michael have lived happily in Bellingham, Washington for 31 years.