Barbara Trofimczyk was well-known and well-loved in the music fraternity of Durban.
She studied at Rhodes University, where her love of choral music began.

She had an influential and varied career in the classical music world. For many years she taught piano and singing individually, with her students being well-prepared for exams and performances, and achieving excellent results.

She lectured at both the University of Durban, Westville and the University of KwaZulu Natal, where she specialized in aural training, theory and harmony. One of her passions was developing sight reading and sight singing skills in her students and she did much research on this topic. For many years she trained the Durban Boys’ Choir, along with her great friend, Bobby Mills. She was also closely involved with the Durban Chamber Choir.

She had a long association with the Durban Centre of the South African Society of Music Teachers and served on the committee. She supported many concerts and events organized by the Durban Centre.

She was a strong supporter of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s concerts and for a time she reviewed their concerts for the artSMart website.

She passed away on 30 June, and many of her colleagues and past students have written moving tributes on Facebook. She will be sadly missed.