Edwin Barker to Retire from Boston Symphony Orchestra After Over Four Decades as Principal Bass

In Tuesday’s (7/23) Violin Channel, a staff-written report states, “Edwin Barker, principal bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), has announced his retirement—having been a member of the orchestra’s bass section since 1977. Barker was first introduced to the double bass through a mandatory string program in the fourth grade. He made quick progress, and by the age of 15 was appearing professionally with the Vermont Symphony and the Albany Symphony. Following his studies at the New England Conservatory, Barker spent half a year with the New York Philharmonic before winning a permanent job in the Chicago Symphony … After just one year in Chicago, though, he was appointed Principal Bass at the BSO—and he became the youngest principal in the history of the orchestra. On many occasions, Barker has appeared as soloist with the BSO. He gave the world premieres of James Yannatos’ Concerto for Contrabass and Chamber Orchestra—which was written for him—and of Theodore Antoniou’s Concertino for Contrabass and Chamber Orchestra…. Barker is an Associate Professor of Double Bass at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. He has also taught at the BSO’s Tanglewood Music Center (where he is chairman of instrumental and orchestral studies), and at the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland.”