| Bio: |
Director of Bands, Jefferson High School
Thomas W. Barker, Jr. is the Director of Bands and the Music Department Specialist at Lafayette Jefferson High School. He has served in this capacity since 1998. Prior to accepting the position at Jefferson High School, Mr. Barker served as the director of bands at Sunnyside Middle School and assistant director at Jefferson High School. Now in his 29th year of teaching, Mr. Barker started his career at Unity High School in Tolono, Illinois and then spent ten years as director at Tri-County High School in Wolcott, Indiana.
Mr. Barker did his undergraduate work at East Carolina University and received his Masters in Music Education from the University of Illinois. At East Carolina, he was a member of the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. During his time at Illinois, he was a member of the Large Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. Harry Begian.
In 1998, Mr. Barker received the Golden Apple Award For Excellence in Teaching. This award is given annually to teachers in the Greater Lafayette area by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. At the 2005 Indiana Music Educators Convention he was awarded the Outstanding High School Music Educator of the year.
Mr. Barker has been a guest conductor and performer with the Lafayette Citizen's Band. He has been an adjudicator for the Indiana State School Music Association. He has guest conducted the Indiana All Region Band on several occasions. He is on the ISSMA state board and served as President in 2004 He has served on the IMEA convention planning board. He has been a guest clinician for several area high school bands.
Concert bands under Mr. Barker's direction have consistently received superior ratings at ISSMA events. The Jefferson Wind Ensemble was selected in 1999 as the Purdue University Honor Band. In 2000, 2001,2003, 2004,2005 the Jefferson Wind Ensemble qualified for the ISSMA State Concert Band Finals. The Wind Ensemble was also selected to perform for the Indiana State University Wind Band Festival in 2002.
Marching Bands that have been under Mr. Barker's direction have performed at the Apple Blossom Festival Parade, Opryland, Hollywood Christmas Parade, Walt Disney Mulan Parade Kentucky Derby Parade and in 2003 participated in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving parade. The Jefferson Marching Band qualified for State Marching Band Finals in 2005 and received the highest rating since 1985.
His wife Debbie is a elementary music teacher in the Tri-County School Corporation. They have two children. Sarah, recently married and in 2004 graduated from Butler University majoring in Music Education and is presently a teacher in the Tippecanoe School Corporation and John is a junior attending Purdue University majoring in astro- aeronautical engineering. |
| Affiliation with music dept:: |
director |
Band Directors 
