Violinist/violist Lou Barker enjoys a varied career playing music by living composers, singer-songwriters, as well as engaging with standard classical repertoire. A joy of Lou’s is collaborating in an array of musical settings such as operas, theaters, and non-traditional spaces with both small and large chamber ensembles.

A passion for new music has afforded him many meaningful opportunities working with groups such as InfraSound, Contemporaneous and Summer Stages at Lincoln Center under the direction of David Bloom, Next Festival for Emerging Artists, and various NYU and other New York-based contemporary ensembles. Lou has played in established and upcoming musicals such as Bloom: the Musical by Gillian Fox and Ashlyn Bondurant and Virgo by é boylan and scored by Emma Hassselbach. 

While making a home for himself in NYC, Lou has also explored music-making in festivals domestically and internationally in Italy, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, New York, and Connecticut. When Lou is not performing or rehearsing, he is often teaching various levels; from elementary general music to ukulele to private violin lessons or coaching contemporary chamber music. Lou is a passionate student of Alexander Technique and is interested in a scaffolded approach to teaching that pairs physically sustainable playing techniques with built-upon previous knowledge and interests. Lou holds MM and BM degrees from New York University and The University of Iowa and studied with Melissa White and Gregory Fulkerson for the entirety of his Masters of Music at New York University.