Barbara Penny  Barbara Penny (1929 – 2007) was a British violinist. She was the first woman to play in the strings section of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She attended Malvern Girls' College and received a scholarship to the Royal College of Music. In April, 2008, a Stradivarius violin owned by Penny since 1965 was auctioned by Christie's for $1.2 million.