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 Georgia Music Educators Association events. WBMS was invited to
perform for the GMEA In-Service Conference in 2008 and for the ASTA National
Orchestra Competition in 2006. Most recently 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.
He
currently teaches string bass at Kennesaw
State University, the Encore!
Summer Music Camp, the Florida State Summer Music
Camp, and
the Walton High School Orchestra Summer 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, 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 represent both of these fine traditions.
Formerly,
James Barket was on the faculty at Valdosta State University in Valdosta Georgia. He has translated Alfred Planavsky's "The Baroque Double Bass Violone" (1998: Scarecrow Press). Previous
professional engagements include: Principal Bassist of the Valdosta Symphony
Orchestra, Principal Bassist of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Bassist in the
VSU Faculty Jazz Quintet, and Per Service Bassist with the Savannah Symphony
Orchestra.
Prior
string teaching experience includes work with the South Georgia String Project
in Valdosta, GA. This Project, sponsored by the VSO, provides string-instrument
instruction to area public and private-school children. Dr. Barket taught class
strings at Parker Mathis Elementary and Lowndes Middle School. In addition, he
managed the program from 1997-1999. He was also active with the Valdosta
Symphony Youth Orchestra. He directed the Summer Program in 1999, and managed
the orchestra during the 1999-2000 school year.