Thomas Barry

Tom Barry currently supervises the audio recording, livestream and sound reinforcement for all recitals and concerts presented at the University of Northern Iowa School of Music. Before retiring from teaching in 2013, he taught applied oboe and saxophone, as well as classes in music technology, classroom guitar, audio recording and instrument repair. He also served as the director of Jazz Band II from 1989 to 1991.

Mr. Barry has performed as oboe and saxophone soloist with bands and orchestras around Iowa. He retired from the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra in 2009 after serving for 36 years as principal oboist. Over the years, he has performed on saxophone and woodwinds for numerous Broadway musicals touring Iowa, as well as concerts with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, the Temptations and Mannheim Steamroller. Barry now plays regularly as saxophonist with the Waterloo based rock band, Deja Blue.

Although he is primarily a performer and teacher, Barry has engineered over 80 CDs, tapes and records for university ensembles and faculty, as well as for other artists outside of the university community. In addition, he operates his own sound company, providing sound reinforcement for various indoor and outdoor events, including the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony and Orquesta Alto Maiz.

Tom Barry holds Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Oboe Performance degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He taught instrumental music in the Jefferson County public school system in Denver Colorado, before joining the music faculty at the University of Northern Iowa in 1973.