St. Louisan Terry Barber is a rare breed. He is a countertenor—a man whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto or mezzo-soprano female voice. There are not many like him in the world. Barber holds a master’s degree in music performance from London’s Trinity College of Music and has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, among them London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, New York City’s Metropolitan Opera and Moscow’s Svetlanov Hall. A voting member of the Grammy Awards and on the advisory committee for Nelly’s X’treme Recording Institute, he has appeared on every major record label. Although he grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire, St. Louis always has been meaningful for him—his parents met at SLU, and he has extended family here. In 2009, Barber founded Artists for a Cause, a nonprofit that helps visual and performing artists use their talent for community improvement. The nonprofit is based in Palm City, Florida, but Barber has an office in the .ZACK performing arts incubator on Locust Street. He lives downtown with his husband and their 7-year-old twins.
what I do …
Barber is a performing artist and also executive director of Artists for a Cause, a nonprofit that supports artists who serve community needs. He formed the organization after losing his mother to lymphoma. “I was about to release my first solo album of songs she loved,” he recalls. “I dedicated it to her and gave all the proceeds to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I formed Artists for a Cause to make it easier for artists to promote and support different charities by creating paid and educational opportunities in the field whenever talent is being used to better the community.”
way back when …
Barber first became aware of his vocal ability in kindergarten. “I think I was always inclined to sing because my mother had always sung to me. But my kindergarten teacher had a piano in the classroom and once she realized I could, she would ask me to sing for the class.” At age 9, he had the title role in Amahl and the Night Visitors, a production by New Hampshire’s Opera North.
what I listen to …
Even though Barber has plenty of Top 40 hits on his play list, he compares pop music to bubble gum: “It’s sweet and wonderful, but after a couple of chews, it loses its flavor.” He says, however, that Bach’s music is like sustenance for him: “I have such an emotional response to it—the complexity and beauty of his winding melodies. You struggle to wonder which line is the most beautiful. I could sing those arias for the rest of my life.” Although he says he’s a mostly happy person, he likes ‘sad art.’ “As far as characters go, I can really relate to the Phantom, someone who’s dark and oppressed!”
most daunting performance …
“It was my 2009 debut at New York City Opera. It was Monteverdi’s Return of Ulysses and I was the first singer on stage, wearing nothing but a loin cloth. It was upsetting, but also funny: My grandmother had come from Illinois to see me and her first comment after the show was that she hadn’t seen my behind in 20 years!”
where I g
o …
Barber moved to St. Louis three years ago and is really fond of SqWires in Lafayette Square. “We go for brunch. They have an amazing Bloody Mary and mimosa bar! I also frequent the city’s parks and have a zoo membership.”
you might not know …
“I used to be a clubber—both when I lived in London and also in St. Louis, down on Washington Avenue. It’s not what you think of when you think of classical singers who can be a little uptight about those kinds of ‘naughty’ places!”
what I love …
“I love cities—London, Stockholm, Berlin and, of course, St. Louis, but for different reasons. My family is here, and it’s small enough that I think we all feel connected. I also love food—sweet things mostly—and it’s one of my constant battles. I’m not overweight, but I could be if I didn’t watch myself.” Mostly, though, Barber loves people. “When I’m in front of an audience, I always have this strange feeling like I know everyone. Wherever I am, I feel that. On the whole, people are good. And that gives me hope.”
