Robert M. Barr
Encyclopedia
Bob Barr was the conductor
of the famed Jordan High School Band in Columbus
, Georgia
from 1946 to 1963. Under his direction, the Jordan High School Band achieved the highest acclaim winning many state and national titles.
Barr was born in Hartford, Oklahoma and he studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
before becoming a teacher. He was a chorus director in Fort Benning
, before moving on to his position at Jordan. He was a national champion as a tuba
player and at one point in his younger days played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
. His Jordan High School Band was voted the American Legion Award as the nation's outstanding high school band in 1952. He became conductor of the revived Columbus Symphony in 1950 and founded the Columbus Youth Symphony in 1955.
His success caused Muscogee County schools to divide their band and chorus departments---a separation that continues today. In 1987, Jordan was named to the Historic Roll of Honor of High School Concert Bands from 1920-1960 by the John Philip Sousa Foundation
. His bands at Jordan High and Glynn Academy
in Brunswick, Ga. won 32 consecutive superior rankings. He was also a teacher for the famed Brevard Music Center
camp from the mid '60's through the mid '70's.
After leaving Glynn Academy, he spent several years at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC before his retirement. He was president and national vice-president of Phi Beta Mu and is recorded in the Phi Beta Mu Band Director's Fraternity Hall of Fame and the National High School Band Director's Hall of Fame. Barr was awarded the First Chair of America by the National Band Organization and the Teacher of Excellence Award by the Valley Forge Foundation.
Since his death in 1988, the Bob Barr Community Band has been playing in his memory for the city of Columbus.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the famed Jordan High School Band in Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
from 1946 to 1963. Under his direction, the Jordan High School Band achieved the highest acclaim winning many state and national titles.
Barr was born in Hartford, Oklahoma and he studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was a conservatory, part of a girls' finishing school, founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It merged with the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1955, forming the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which is now part of the University of Cincinnati.The...
before becoming a teacher. He was a chorus director in Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, before moving on to his position at Jordan. He was a national champion as a tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
player and at one point in his younger days played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana.Annually, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs 200 concerts for over 350,000 people. It is the largest performing arts organization in Indiana. The ISO is currently one of only 18 American...
. His Jordan High School Band was voted the American Legion Award as the nation's outstanding high school band in 1952. He became conductor of the revived Columbus Symphony in 1950 and founded the Columbus Youth Symphony in 1955.
His success caused Muscogee County schools to divide their band and chorus departments---a separation that continues today. In 1987, Jordan was named to the Historic Roll of Honor of High School Concert Bands from 1920-1960 by the John Philip Sousa Foundation
John Philip Sousa Foundation
The John Philip Sousa Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the promotion of band music internationally. The foundation administers a number of projects and awards supporting high quality band performance, conducting, and composition....
. His bands at Jordan High and Glynn Academy
Glynn Academy
Glynn Academy is an American public high school in Brunswick, Georgia, USA,, enrolling 1,755 students in grades 9–12. Along with Brunswick High School, it is one of two high schools in the Glynn County School System...
in Brunswick, Ga. won 32 consecutive superior rankings. He was also a teacher for the famed Brevard Music Center
Brevard Music Center
The Brevard Music Center is a summer institute and festival located in Brevard, North Carolina. It enrolls about four hundred students, age fourteen and older, who participate in orchestra and other large ensembles, an opera program, play chamber music, study composition, and take private lessons....
camp from the mid '60's through the mid '70's.
After leaving Glynn Academy, he spent several years at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC before his retirement. He was president and national vice-president of Phi Beta Mu and is recorded in the Phi Beta Mu Band Director's Fraternity Hall of Fame and the National High School Band Director's Hall of Fame. Barr was awarded the First Chair of America by the National Band Organization and the Teacher of Excellence Award by the Valley Forge Foundation.
Since his death in 1988, the Bob Barr Community Band has been playing in his memory for the city of Columbus.