| 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 34th 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 was elected into the Phi Beta Mu professional fraternity in 2005 and was awarded the Outstanding Band Director of the Year in January of 2011.
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, 2001,2002, 2003, 2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2010,2011 the Jefferson Wind Ensemble qualified for the prestigious 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 , Philadelphia Thanksgiving parade, The Jefferson Marching Band qualified for State Marching Band Finals in 2001,2005 and most recently in 2010 received the highest rating since 1985. The marching band will be performing in 2011 in the Hollywood Santa Parade in Hollywood California.
His wife Debbie is an elementary music teacher in the Tri-County School Corporation. They have two grown children both married. Their daughter Sarah graduated from Butler University majoring in Music Education and is presently at home taking care of Mr. Barker’s two wonderful grandchildren, Tucker and Tessa. Her husband, Nathan is Associate Pastor at Ridge United Methodist church in Munster IN. Their son John is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and is presently an Associate Engineer for Aerojet Corporation. He and his wife Melissa live in Sacramento, California. |
| Affiliation with music dept:: |
director |
Band Directors 
