Barry Tucker – Conductor

Barry Tucker has 42 years’ experience teaching and directing bands in Roanoke County Virginia. He retired as the Supervisor of Music and Performing Arts for the county school system.  His concert groups have continually received recognition for performing demanding music with attention to detail.

Mr. Tucker received his BS in Music Education from Western Carolina University and MA in Music Performance from Radford University. He has been on the faculties of Radford University, Virginia Tech, and the King’s School in Sydney Australia. In his tenure as a high school band director he  was chosen teacher of the year in 1990, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.   In 1997 he was chosen educator of the year in Roanoke by Cox Cable TV for his work with technology in the classroom. Three times he received the Star Award given by the General Electric Corporation for his contribution to the lives of his students and in 2004 was nominated Educator of the Year for the county school system.

Mr. Tucker has been a guest clinician/ conductor throughout the southeast including Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee. He recently retired as a trombonist with the Roanoke Symphony and Opera Roanoke after 40 years of service. He currently is the director of the Roanoke Valley Community Band. He also directs the winds and percussion of the Roanoke Youth Symphony and plays in the Roanoke Chamber Brass Quintet as well as “Domino”, a high energy horn band.

As a performer he consider himself fortunate to have played with the Ashville Symphony, The Maryland Ballet, The Johnny McClennon Big band, The Freddie Lee Orchestra, and such artist as Michael McDonald, Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson, Glenn Campbell, Chet Atkins, Aaron Neville, Boz Skaggs, Clark Terry, Mic Gillette, Debbie Reynolds ,Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, Glen Campbell, Billy Taylor, Al Jareau, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Bruce Hornsby, The Moody Blues, The Impressions, Cool and the Gang, numerous circuses and ice shows.