Biography
In his seven year long tenure as Principal Trumpet with the Pacific Symphony, Barry Perkins has been hailed by critics as “fearless”, “first rate” , and “phenomenal”.*
Throughout his career, Barry has performed live with many famous classical and jazz artists as well as esteemed conductors. Barry has performed on the worlds most prestigious concert stages including those of Munich, Frankfurt, London, Lucerne, Hannover, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Essen, Vienna, The Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Pacific Symphony’s new Segerstrom Concert Hall.
In addition to his live orchestra career, Barry has had the privilege to play along side a few of the Hollywood Studio trumpet players that he has heard and respected for many years. A few recent motion pictures in which Barry has played in the trumpet section are: Men in Black 3, The Muppets, Karate Kid, The Last Airbender, Avatar, 2012, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Knight and Day, Wolfman, Human Target (TV series, Fox), Couples Retreat, The Princess and the Frog, Wolverine, Tinker bell 3, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Hotel For Dogs, Bedtime Stories, G-Force, Miracle at St. Anna, and Repo Men.
Recently, Barry served as the contracted interim 3rd trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2010/2011 season. During this season the orchestra toured Europe for 3 weeks with Gustavo Dudamel.
In addition to his career as a performer, Barry is a renowned teacher whose powerful and energetic teaching style has influenced many young trumpeters to become great musicians as well as great leaders. He is a member of the music faculty at California State University Fullerton and founder of the Barry Perkins Trumpet Academy which reaches many young musicians throughout southern California.
Years ago, at the age of twenty, Barry won his first Orchestra job as the Associate Principal Trumpet of the Mexico City Philharmonic and while living in Mexico performed with the State of Mexico Orchestra, Mineria Philharmonic, and the UNAM Philharmonic. After a few years in Mexico, Barry returned home to San Diego where he became the first-call substitute Principal Trumpet of the San Diego Symphony and a member of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. In 2004 Barry became the Principal Trumpet of the Pacific Symphony.
Barry began playing the trumpet at the age of five under the instruction of his father, William Perkins. He continued his studies in high school with Richard Birkemier and later with Donald Green of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Barry then attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied with Charles Schlueter.
Barry has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Opera, and numerous touring Broadway shows. In addition, Barry has appeared as a soloist with the Aguas Calientes Symphony Orchestra in Mexico, Southeast Symphony, San Diego Winds and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.
When not playing his trumpet you can find Barry at his local gym pumping iron, or forming his new group..The Barry Perkins Collective!
*Quotes from:
Orange County Register , June 2005
Orange County Register, Dec. 2005
Generalanzeiger (Cologne, Germany) March 31, 2006
