John Barker has performed across the U. K. to outstanding critical acclaim and has received numerous awards for his solo and chamber performances. A BBC Young Musicians finalist and twice winner of the Royal College of Music Saxophone Prize, he has also reached the finals of the Royal Overseas League Competition and the Young Concert Artists Trust.

John has been supported by Making Music (Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist Award) and is currently promoted by the Kirckman Concert Society. His exceptional flexibility as a performer has led to success in the field of contemporary music (Park Lane Group Young Artists Series) and in education and outreach work (Live Music Now!). In his most recent project, “From Bach to Brubeck”, he was described by critics as “…so versatile, adapting his instrument chameleon-like to the genre he is playing.”

As an undergraduate at the Royal College of Music, John was a foundation scholar and studied with Kyle Horch and Martin Robertson. In addition, he studied with Johannes Ernst at the Hochschule der Kuenste, Berlin, as part of the Erasmus Exchange programme. His postgraduate studies were supported by the prestigious Ian Fleming Award (Musicians Benevolent Fund), the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Robert MacFadzean Whyte prize. It was during this time at the Royal College that he began his duo partnership with Tim Sidford. John achieved his Masters with distinction, receiving the Marjorie and Dorothy Whyte Memorial Prize for an outstanding graduate in 2003.

Commissioned works include “Trying to See More” by Ben Foskett, which John premiered at the Purcell Room in 2004 and Richard Whalley’s “Intoxicating Orchids”, premiered in 2007 and recorded with Vaganza in 2010. He has also worked extensively with the Southbank Sinfonia and the New Professionals Ensemble.