Blab Music
Edwin Barker Joins Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as Visiting Double-Bass Professor
Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music announced that Edwin Barker, former principal double‑bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will begin a term as Visiting Professor of Music for double bass on August 1, 2026. The appointment places Barker alongside faculty members Kurt Muroki and jazz bassist Jeremy Allen.
Barker’s career has spanned nearly five decades of orchestral and solo work. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, he studied double bass with Henry Portnoi and, while still a student, secured a position with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His other teachers included Peter Mercurio, Richard Stephan, Angelo LaMariana and David Perleman. After completing his degree at age 22, Barker was appointed principal double‑bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, becoming the youngest principal player in that orchestra’s history.
During his 48‑year tenure with the BSO, Barker performed worldwide and premiered several bass concertos written for him. He has a Grammy‑nominated discography that includes recordings with the BSO, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Collage New Music, and frequent guest appearances with the Boston Chamber Music Society. In the orchestra’s 100th‑anniversary season he opened with Serge Koussevitzky’s Concerto for Contrabass.
Barker’s teaching credentials are extensive. He is an associate professor at Boston University College of Fine Arts, where he teaches double bass, orchestral techniques and chamber music. He also teaches at the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland and served as chair of instrumental and orchestral studies at the BSO’s Tanglewood Music Center. According to the IU announcement, his experience has helped former students secure positions in major orchestras worldwide.
The Jacobs School of Music highlighted Barker’s “extraordinary legacy” and his “world‑class mentorship” in a social‑media post. The school noted that his arrival will “inspire and mentor our students this upcoming academic year.” The addition of Barker to the faculty is expected to strengthen the school’s double‑bass program and provide students with direct access to a performer of international repute.
Barker announced his retirement from the BSO in 2024 after 48 years of service, having joined the orchestra in 1977. His departure marks the end of a historic era for Boston’s flagship ensemble. The new role at Indiana University allows him to continue shaping the next generation of musicians while drawing on his extensive performance and teaching experience.
The appointment underscores the growing trend of established orchestral musicians taking on academic positions to share practical knowledge with students. It also reflects the continued importance of double‑bass instruction in conservatory settings, as the instrument remains central to both orchestral and chamber ensembles.
As the 2026‑27 academic year approaches, students at the Jacobs School of Music can look forward to lessons from a performer who has shaped the double‑bass repertoire and pedagogy for decades. Barker’s presence will likely attract additional attention to the school’s music programs and reinforce its reputation as a leading institution for instrumental study.
Barker’s career has spanned nearly five decades of orchestral and solo work. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, he studied double bass with Henry Portnoi and, while still a student, secured a position with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His other teachers included Peter Mercurio, Richard Stephan, Angelo LaMariana and David Perleman. After completing his degree at age 22, Barker was appointed principal double‑bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, becoming the youngest principal player in that orchestra’s history.
During his 48‑year tenure with the BSO, Barker performed worldwide and premiered several bass concertos written for him. He has a Grammy‑nominated discography that includes recordings with the BSO, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Collage New Music, and frequent guest appearances with the Boston Chamber Music Society. In the orchestra’s 100th‑anniversary season he opened with Serge Koussevitzky’s Concerto for Contrabass.
Barker’s teaching credentials are extensive. He is an associate professor at Boston University College of Fine Arts, where he teaches double bass, orchestral techniques and chamber music. He also teaches at the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland and served as chair of instrumental and orchestral studies at the BSO’s Tanglewood Music Center. According to the IU announcement, his experience has helped former students secure positions in major orchestras worldwide.
The Jacobs School of Music highlighted Barker’s “extraordinary legacy” and his “world‑class mentorship” in a social‑media post. The school noted that his arrival will “inspire and mentor our students this upcoming academic year.” The addition of Barker to the faculty is expected to strengthen the school’s double‑bass program and provide students with direct access to a performer of international repute.
Barker announced his retirement from the BSO in 2024 after 48 years of service, having joined the orchestra in 1977. His departure marks the end of a historic era for Boston’s flagship ensemble. The new role at Indiana University allows him to continue shaping the next generation of musicians while drawing on his extensive performance and teaching experience.
The appointment underscores the growing trend of established orchestral musicians taking on academic positions to share practical knowledge with students. It also reflects the continued importance of double‑bass instruction in conservatory settings, as the instrument remains central to both orchestral and chamber ensembles.
As the 2026‑27 academic year approaches, students at the Jacobs School of Music can look forward to lessons from a performer who has shaped the double‑bass repertoire and pedagogy for decades. Barker’s presence will likely attract additional attention to the school’s music programs and reinforce its reputation as a leading institution for instrumental study.
