Korey Barrett

Dr. Korey Barrett is Professor and Vocal Coach at the University of Northern Iowa. Dr. Barrett’s background includes training as a vocal coach, accompanist, pedagogue, and singer.  Barrett is the co-founder and head vocal coach of Opera Neo, a company specializing in Baroque and Classical opera in San Diego, CA that is about to embark upon its thirteenth season with productions of Motezuma, Armida, and L’elisir d’amore.  Opera Neo features collaboration with musicians, conductors, coaches, and stage directors from across the country and overseas. The company returns to Budapest in May of 2025 to mount a second production with the Hungarian State Opera (Haydn’s Armida), after previously collaborating on a production of Mozart’s La finta giardiniera in 2023.  Barrett has also served as coach and pianist for several seasons of the Des Moines Metro Opera and as Resident Artist coach for the Minnesota Opera. He maintains an active recital and master class schedule, with his most recent visits to Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Prior to his appointment at UNI, Barrett served as vocal coach at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Music. Other artistic venues and organizations have included Opera North, The Ohio Light Opera, the Columbus Academy of Vocal Arts, as well as projects with the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Eastman School of Music Summer Institute, the Heartland Marimba Ensemble, and the Cedar Valley Chamber Music Festival. Barrett received his Doctoral degree in piano accompanying and chamber music from the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Jean Barr.