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Barbara Kirkby-Mason
BARBARA KIRKBY-MASON
b. 1910
Barbara Kirkby-Mason, FRAM, Hon FTCL, LRAM, is a well known composer in the field of educational
music. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music, reaching a high standard in piano performance and
gaining the Sterndale Bennett Prize for Mozart playing.
Barbara Kirkby-Mason has contributed articles and has travelled widely in the UK and overseas,
undertaking lectures, master-classes, and broadcasting. Her piano publications have received world-
wide recognition. During her recent lecture appearance at the EPTA "'European Congress" in Lucerne
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(October 1992) Barbara Kirkby-Mason was acclaimed the leading composer for Piano Education in
Switzerland. Her compositions are in frequent demand as Test Pieces for Examinations and Music
Festivals. Her output for "Piano Duets" (for beginners and at concert level) is of particular significance
and is now used extensively for contests in the UK and overseas.
Works by Barbara Kirkby-Mason include:
Musical beginnings for All (Revised Ed. 1993)
International Piano Course for Beginners (in 23 parts, text in English, French and German)
The Adult Course (in English and German editions [London and Cologne])
The Growing Up Course (in 6 parts, with words and music)
Modem Society (concert suite for solo piano)
The Skitsy Sailor (for piano duet -- higher grade)
Four Island Memories (for piano solo or arr. duet -- concert standard)
The Fantasy Rondo for Solo Guitar by Barbara Kirkby-Mason was premiered by Gregory Newton at
the Wigmore Hall, London, in 1987 (see programme note).