School District of New Richmond - High School Orchestra

Welcome to High School Orchestra!

Hello! I am Mr. Barker.

I have taught orchestra for 12 years. My wife and I have lived in New Richmond for 9 years and love spending time with our four kids. Some of my hobbies are disc golf, being outdoors, and creating new things. I'm originally from Utah, and while I still love the mountains, I've come to really appreciate the unique beauty of the Midwest. The lakes, the rivers, the incredible cloud formations, sunsets and thunderstorms!

Needed Materials

Needed materials for all Orchestra courses: Instrument (owned or rented); Bow, Rosin; Pencil. Now that you're at the high school, this is a good time to consider whether it's worth upgrading to a nicer instrument if you're still on a beginner-level rental. Email Mr. Barker with questions or concerns- happy to help you think it through.

Course Information

Welcome to the Symphony Orchestra at New Richmond High School. Our first concert is right around the corner and I hope that you are looking forward to it - see the calendar below. You will have chances to meet and work with the members of the Chamber Orchestra throughout the year. Make the most of those opportunities as you prepare for Chamber Orchestra in the next year or two. I am excited to have you at the high school and looking forward to making some awesome music!

Student Resources

High School Double Coaching Session

Before (student): Scale Check or Song Check? Write the piece/section or scale. Self-rate: memorized, expression/vibrato, dynamics, pitches in tune, pure/smooth tone, rhythms correct, steady tempo, proper posture, correct fingers. Rubric: 4 Mastered, 3 Developing, 2 Early stages, 1 Not applying.
During (coach): Score 10 = 0-1 mistakes, 9 = 2-4 mistakes, 8 = 5-8 mistakes, 7 = 9+ mistakes. Coach name. "I like..." (two specific compliments). One specific thing to work on. What I would do to improve on this is...
After (student): Self score. Explain why you gave yourself this score.

WSMA State Honors Orchestra

A highly recommended, auditioned honors ensemble through the Wisconsin School Music Association. It earns Letter Points if accepted/performed.

Lettering

Orchestra Letter Points Request: Turn in a request sheet to Mr. Barker with details showing points are earned. You need 40 letter points to letter in Orchestra.

Sheet Music & Research

J.W. Pepper
Hal Leonard
MuseScore
Excelsia Music Publishing and the NRHS Orchestra Music Library (over 450 titles on hand, Browse what's already in our library before buying new)

Solo & Ensemble

This is last year's WSMA-approved Solo and Ensemble repertoire by instrument/ensemble. This is a great resource to choose something to learn for Solo and Ensemble Festival. The earlier you start, the better you can do.

View the 2025-2026 WSMA-Approved Solo and Ensemble List

Music Camps & Local Resources

Festivals, camps, and community opportunities to keep growing as a musician beyond the classroom.

UW-Eau Claire Educational Music Festivals
UW-Eau Claire hosts music festivals each year for band, choir, and orchestra students, with rehearsals, master classes, and time working with university faculty and guest artists. Strings-specific events include the String Festival (open to violin, viola, cello, bass, and guitar students of all levels) and the Honors Orchestra for high school students. A summer music program is also planned for June 2027.

View dates, fees, and registration on the UWEC Website.

Dates, deadlines, and fees are set by UW-Eau Claire and can change. Check their page, and talk with Mr. Barker about nominations or registration.

Orchestra Calendar

Orchestra Performances and Important Dates

Middle School Orchestra

This site is where my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes can find practice resources, pass-off sheets, coaching materials, and the full performance calendar in one place.