At Chethams he performed in solo and chamber music masterclasses with Frances Gouton, Gabor Tackacs - Nagy, David Waterman, and the Brodsky Quartet. As a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain he performed in all of England’s major concert halls, as well as teaching on the NYO Inspire programme, and performing with the orchestra in the Berlin Konzerthaus.
After Chethams he began his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, with Louise Hopkins. Whilst there he started his own summer chamber music festival, called Nova Festival, which happens every year in St Austell where he grew up. During his time at Guildhall he performed in the Dante Festival with the Nova Ensemble, in a masterclass with Andras Keller, and won the St James Prize as part of Quartet Concrète.
Recent concert highlights include sextet performances with the Brodsky Quartet, presenting the fourth Nova Festival, and being resident at Lake District Summer Music as part of Quartet Concrète.
The NOVA Festival was set up in 2021 by Joseph Barker as a way of giving back to the town that raised him, championing young Cornish talent and contributing to the cultural landscape of St Austell.
In 2022 the festival expanded, adding an extra concert and involving more young musicians from Cornwall and elsewhere, playing a more ambitious programme to a larger audience.
2023 saw new and returning faces collaborate to present a diverse programme involving not only strings, but also piano, with an instrument kindly provided by Clive Pinkham. We were also very proud to be offering chamber music workshops for children aged 11 - 16 looking to develop their skills.
NOVA Festival 2024 built on what was established the previous year - the performances reached new artistic heights in a shorter, more concentrated programming format which prioritised quality and audience comfort.
NOVA Festival is now looking towards 2025 where we hope to expand further and extend our reach to new and enthusiastic concertgoers alike!
Quartet Concrète formed at the Guildhall School in 2021. During their time together they have been praised for their natural chemistry, colourful atmospheres and well blended sound. The quartet has been fortunate enough to receive regular coaching from tutors such as Krysia Osostowicz, Ursula Smith, Matthew Jones and Gary Pomeroy as well as members of the Endellion Quartet. As well as this, they have been selected for many inspiring masterclasses with players such as András Keller and Levon Chilingirian.
Highlights of their time together include performances in Milton Court Concert Hall as a part of the Guildhall’s ‘Chamber at 8’ series. In 2023, the quartet were awarded 1st prize at the Guildhall’s St James’ Chamber Music Competition and subsequently performed two recital programmes at St James’ Piccadilly in June and November of 2023. The quartet were selected by Chamber Studio to be a part of the Hans Keller Chamber Forum for the 2023/24 period where they received mentorship from Alasdair Beatson, John Myerscough and Richard Ireland.
In summer 2024 the Quartet were invited to be a resident string quartet at Lake District Music’s Summer Festival. They performed several of their own recitals as well as alongside the Alkyona Quartet, trio Shaham-Erez-Wallfisch and received masterclasses from the Brodsky and Heath Quartets.