Dr. Barrett is an honor graduate from Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) where he received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in voice and choral conducting. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Arizona, where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting, under the tutelage of Dr. Maurice Stones and Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, and vocal performance.

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Barrett taught choral music in public schools for sixteen years, where his students performed at the state, regional, and national levels as well as concert tours throughout Europe and the United States. His high school students consistently held record numbers of I ratings at both district and state music festivals. During his high school teaching career, his choirs performed in such venues as Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, St. Johns Church, St. James Church-Piccadilly, Westminster Cathedral, and St. Giles Cathedral. As a member of the National Association of the Teachers of Singing, his private students were consistently named state and regional finalists.

 

While attending the University of Arizona, he conducted the Symphonic choir, the university’s premiere undergraduate mixed choral ensemble. In addition, he performed roles in several of the university’s Opera Theatre productions, served as opera chorus director, choral assistant for the university-sponsored Community Choir, and vocal soloist for several choral performances/collaborations.

 

From 2002 – 2009, Dr. Barrett was on faculty at the University of Northern Iowa where he conducted the Varsity Men’s Glee Club, UNI Singers, and the Chamber Singers. During that time, he taught undergraduate and graduate choral conducting, choral methods and techniques, graduate history and survey of large choral forms, and graduate administration of the music program. While at UNI, the Chamber Singers auditioned and were selected to participate in the National ACDA Convention held in Miami, Florida (2007). Under his direction, the Varsity Men’s Glee Club performed in such venues as Ruthin Castle, Christ’s Church-Dublin, St. Asaph’s Cathedral, Sheldonian Theatre, St. Paul’s Covent Garden, St. Vitus Cathedral, Lodz Cultural Center, Chapel of Mirrors, St. Kinga’s Chapel, and Maria Zaccaria Church.

 

Barrett often serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and director for festivals and competitions throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Dr. Barrett recently fulfilled his duties as Interim National Repertoire and Standards Chair for College and University, as well as the ACDA North Central Division Repertoire and Standards Chair for College and University. Prior to that assignment, he served the same organization as ACDA North Central Division Repertoire and Standards Chair for Youth and Student Activities. Dr. Barrett has also served as the Iowa delegate to the board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization.

 

In addition, Barrett had the honor and privilege to serve the Iowa Choral Directors’ Association as the Convention Chair for the 2008 Iowa Choral Director’s Summer Symposium, and in the same year, conducted the Ninth Grade Opus Honor Choir. He is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, American Choral Director’s Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Delta Kappa.

 

In addition to his artistic responsibilities with Chorale Midwest, Barrett has a very active voice studio of over sixty private students and is the Coordinator of Music for St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Outside his various musical endeavors, he enjoys showing and raising Percheron, Quarter, and Tennessee Walking horses.