CCM hosts Celebration of Life concert for former faculty member Barbara Honn

Everyone who knew Barbara Honn — as an opera singer, as a teacher and mentor, as a friend or family member — recognized two wildly contradictory things about her: She was a magnificent world-class diva, and she was a down-to-earth girl from Kansas. When she walked into a room, it was like a spotlight shone on her, and you could see her command attention with just the tilt of her head or the wave of a hand. Her high artistic standards draped her at all times, but she would speak as enthusiastically about ducks she had seen on a pond or a sale on Christmas ornaments as she would about a new production of Don Giovanni. She had a no-nonsense bluntness when confronted with the world’s nonsense, and a deep appreciation of an elegantly dirty joke. Her wit could bite but her love could heal. 

Barbara Honn passed away on August 3, 2023 after a brief illness, following a diagnosis of cancer.

Many people around the globe knew Barbara Honn as a colleague, having performed with her in opera houses and other notable stages in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and all around the United States. But today, even more know Barbara Honn as a teacher and mentor. She touched countless singers' lives through her 25 years of teaching at University of Cincinnati, CCM. They came to her from all directions. Some were introduced to her through her many programs and seminars such as The Grandin Festival and the Rising Star Singer’s Audition Works. Some knew her from her time as Director of Vocal Studies at Bel Canto Northwest in Portland, Oregon or as a vocal consultant for the apprenticeship programs at L’Opera Bastille in Paris, the San Francisco Opera, and the Instituto Superiore del Arte, Theatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some found her through programs such as The Opera Theater of Lucca in Italy, the Israel Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, the Academy of Vocal Arts, the Voice Symposium of Philadelphia, the Westminster Choir College Summer Program or through the many masterclasses, lectures, concerts and recitals she gave nationally and internationally. Students of Barbara Honn have participated in apprenticeship and summer programs with Wolf Trap, Merola, San Francisco Opera, Aspen, Santa Fe, Glimmerglass and many others. Today, her students perform in major opera houses throughout the world.

And a very lucky few knew her as a beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, wife, aunt, sister-in-law and friend. They, better than anyone, knew how much Barbara loved to travel, to see beautiful places and taste exquisite food and drink. And when she was home, they knew better than anyone how much Barbara loved to entertain and share her love of music and life’s beauties with others.

Her partner in all of life’s adventures, Larry Honn, who passed two years ago, was her constant support. He took it as his dedicated mission in life to keep their family laughing and rolling their eyes at his antics. Together, Barbara and Larry brought their children, Scott and Jennifer, on travels around the world, nurturing in them a deep appreciation of music, culture, laughter, curiosity and a love of meeting new and interesting people. Barbara loved talking about the unique spirit of her grandchildren, Mackenzie and Casey. She also loved calling her science editor son-in-law, John Rennie, for the scientific answers to questions like, “What makes sunsets so beautiful?” One of her favorite pastimes was roaming for hours around Home Goods with Kimberly Hawley, the daughter she adopted in her heart. And she was a good mother over the years to many fine dogs, most recently her beloved Jazz

One thing that all the people Barbara Honn touched with her spirit have in common is that they will be forever changed by having had her in their orbit. With her love of art and music, her teaching, her love for family and friends, Barbara Honn wove a tapestry of beauty, passion, and inspiration. As we bid farewell to a true artist, let us remember her with gratitude and celebrate the legacy of her life —an eight-decade long aria of artistry, laughter and love.