Boston Symphony Orchestra Principal Bass Edwin Barker Retires After Almost Half a Century

Barker became the orchestra's youngest-ever principal when he was appointed in 1977

Edwin Barker, principal bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), has announced his retirement — having been a member of the orchestra's bass section since 1977.

Barker was first introduced to the double bass through a mandatory string program in the fourth grade. He made quick progress, and by the age of 15 was appearing professionally with the Vermont Symphony and the Albany Symphony.

Following his studies at the New England Conservatory, Barker spent half a year with the New York Philharmonic before winning a permanent job in the Chicago Symphony, which was then led by Georg Solti. After just one year in Chicago, though, he was appointed Principal Bass at the BSO — and he became the youngest principal in the history of the orchestra.

On many occasions, Barker has appeared as soloist with the BSO. He gave the world premieres of James Yannatos' Concerto for Contrabass and Chamber Orchestra — which was written especially for him — and of Theodore Antoniou's Concertino for Contrabass and Chamber Orchestra.

Also a committed pedagogue, Barker is an Associate Professor of Double Bass at Boston University's College of Fine Arts. He has also taught at the BSO's Tanglewood Music Center (where he is chairman of instrumental and orchestral studies), and at the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland.

"The unity and camaraderie is as high and positive as I've ever felt," Barker said of the BSO in an interview in March 2024. "Over the last three decades, there were times when we didn't have a music director and we had to rely on ourselves."

"Today, the woodwinds are like a choir; the brass section, the blend and color they produce is stunning; the strings, they've always been a luscious, wonderful section; and the bass section, we're all on the same wavelength, that's important. That has to do with leadership — Andris [Nelsons], his leadership trickles down in so many ways. He's so collaborative; he listens, responds, leads. He also lets the orchestra play as well. We're in such a collaborative place right now."