Ed Barker, Double Bass

Edwin Barker is recognized as one of the most gifted bassists on the American concert scene. Mr. Barker graduated with Honors from the New England Conservatory of Music and immediately joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, before being appointed, at age 22, to the position of Principal Bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has held that position for nearly 50 years. Barker’s primary teachers were Peter Mecurio and Henry Portnoi.

Edwin Barker has performed as double bass soloist with the Boston Symphony and Boston Symphony Chamber Players at Tanglewood,
Boston’s Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and in Europe. Shortly after joining the BSO, Mr. Barker was invited to inaugurate the 100th
anniversary season of the BSO with a solo performance of the Koussevitzky Bass Concerto; the first time in the history of that organization that a bass concerto soloist has appeared on a Boston Symphony Subscription Series. The Boston Globe reported, “Not only does Edwin Barker have what it takes to lead the Boston Symphony double bass section; in a solo capacity he can make that famously unwieldy instrument bearable, plausible; nay, downright compelling…What class!” Other solo engagements include appearances at Ozawa Hall (Tanglewood), Carnegie Recital Hall’s “Sweet and Low” Series, as well as concerto performances with the BSO on international tours.

In 2001, Seiji Ozawa invited Edwin Barker to perform Bruch’s Kol Nidre with the Boston Symphony. “Barker offered the music as prayer, and made of his huge instrument a still, small voice asking eternal questions and responding with timeless answers.” - The Boston Globe. In 2007, Mr Barker was a premier soloist with the BSO during the joint World Premier of John Harbison’s Concerto for Bass Viol and Orchestra.