Mara Barker

Mara Barker is an active performer and educator based in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is currently the Adjunct Instructor of Bass at High Point University and Lower School Music Teacher at Canterbury School Greensboro. She is a Section Bass member of the Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, and is Principal Bass of the Salisbury Symphony. She performs regularly with Opera Roanoke, Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival, and as a freelance orchestral, chamber, and opera bassist throughout the region. She has performed as a soloist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, Ball State University Symphony Orchestra, and the Salisbury Symphony.

Mara has appeared as a guest clinician at UNC-Greensboro, Appalachian State University, and Gardner Webb University; a presenter at the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools Conference; and has been invited to be an adjudicator and sectional coach with several area youth musical organizations. She appears on the soon to be released album of the chamber opera Ballymore by Richard Wargo.

Mara received a Bachelor of Music degree in double bass performance from Ball State University where she was a student of Dr. Philip Albright, a Young Artist Scholarship recipient, and Concerto Competition winner. She received a Master of Music degree in double bass performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was a graduate teaching assistant and student of Mr. Jack Budrow. Mara performs on an award-winning bass (#6) made by the modern luthier Chris Roberts of the Cincinnati Bass Cellar.