James Barket is Orchestra Director at Webb Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, GA--part of the Fulton County School System. His private teachers have included Gary Karr, Leland Tolo, Winston Budrow, and Josef Niederhammer. Formerly, James Barket was on the faculty at Valdosta State University in Valdosta Georgia. While in Valdosta, he translated Alfred Planavsky's Book "The Baroque Double Bass Violone" (1998: Scarecrow Press). He performed as Principal Bassist of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassist of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Bassist in the VSU Faculty Jazz Quintet, and Per Service Bassist with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra. His responsibilities in Valdosta included work with the South Georgia String Project. This Project, sponsored by the VSO, provides string-instrument instruction to area public and private-school children. Dr. Barket taught class strings at Parker Mathis Elementary and Lowndes Middle School. In addition, he managed the program from 1997-1999. He was also active with the Valdosta Symphony Youth Orchestra. He directed the Summer Program in 1999, and managed the orchestra during the 1999-2000 school year.
From 2000-2004, Dr. Barket was Co-Director (with Jennifer Barket) of the GAASTA Summer Camp. He also was the coordinator (with Kevin Majeske) of the GMEA District V Elementary Orchestra Clinic from 2003-2005. Dr. Barket served as GMEA State Orchestra Chairperson from 2005-2007. He currently teaches bass at the Encore! Summer Music Camp, the Florida State Summer Music Camp, and the Walton High School Orchestra Summer Camp.James Barket is interested in all aspects of string playing and teaching. As a bassist, he is especially interested in the players and teachers of the Simandl School. These include Eduard Madenski, Adolf Misek, Max Dauthage, Hans Fryba and others.