James
Barket, Orchestra Teacher/String Bassist
James
Barket is Orchestra Director at Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, GA--part of the Fulton County
School System. WBMS Orchestras under James Barket’s direction
are active participants in all Georgia Music Educators Association events. WBMS
was invited to perform for the GMEA In-Service Conference in 2008, 2021, and
2022 and for the ASTA National Orchestra Competition in 2006. In 2011, the WBMS
Advanced Violin Ensemble was requested by the office of Governor Nathan Deal to
perform at the Governor’s Mansion for Valedictorian Day. Chamber
Ensembles from WBMS were prize winners at the
Franklin Pond Chamber Music Competition in 2017 and 2022.
Barket
has a private studio, and his students have been members of the GMEA All-State
Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Emory Youth Orchestra
among others. In addition, he teaches each summer at the Florida State Summer Music Camp. In 2010, James Barket was a guest clinician for the
Alabama Orchestra Association’s All-State Orchestra Festival. From
2000-2004, Dr. Barket was Co-Director (with Jennifer Barket) of the GAASTA Summer Camp. He
also was the coordinator (with Kevin Majeske) of the GMEA District V
Elementary Orchestra Clinic from 2003-2005. Dr. Barket served as GMEA State Orchestra Chairperson from 2005-2007 and
was the organizer for the GMEA Middle School All-State Orchestra from
2008-2014.
His private teachers have
included Gary Karr, Diana Gannett
Leland Tolo, Winston Budrow, and Josef Niederhammer. As a student of both Gary Karr in the US and
Josef Niederhammer in Vienna, Barket is
interested in music and musicians who represent these two vital schools of bass
playing. His solo recitals include a variety of original compositions for solo
bass and transcriptions/arrangements that highlight these fine traditions, his
love of sacred music, and his appreciation of the teaching profession. He
has also translated Alfred Planavsky's "The Baroque Double Bass Violone" into
English from German (1998: Scarecrow Press).
Barket served on the faculty of Valdosta State University
from 1994-2000 and Kennesaw State University from 2014-2024.