Clyde M. Barr Jr., 81, of Carlisle, passed away on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at M. S. Hershey Medical Center. He was born January 21, 1937 in Lebanon, PA to the late Clyde M. Sr. and RaeAnna (Reber) Barr. Clyde Barr graduated from Lebanon High School (PA) in 1954 with his sweetheart and wife-to-be, Linda Brandt Barr.
Mr. Barr attended the U.S. Naval School of Music in DC, and then served as musician and director of the US Navy Band in Kodiak, Alaska for two and a half years and Boston, Massachusetts… Read More » for one year. He earned his BS in Music Education from West Chester State College, and his Masters of Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Barr and his wife of 59 years, spent several summers as Camp Directors of Camp Hagan, a large girls camp in the Poconos.
Mr. Barr accepted the position of music teacher and band director at Carlisle High School in 1961. Under his direction over the next 16 years, the music ensembles won numerous awards and prestigious honors, including invitation to the Macy’s Parade, and two highly successful European concert tours, winning multiple gold medals and World Championship International Band Competition in Kerkrade, Netherlands. He created the high school jazz ensemble, “The Galaxies”; the Band Booster organization, and the “Artist in Concert” series, which brought famous Big Band orchestras such as Stan Kenton, Count Basie, and Maynard Ferguson to perform at the high school auditorium, which has been recently named, The Clyde & Lyn Barr Auditorium.
During his time at the high school, he also taught music theory and was active in assisting with annual school musical theatre productions. Mr. Barr was a member of MENC, PMEA, ASBDA, NBA music educators’ organizations. He was elected president of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in 1977.
He was often asked to be guest conductor for various honor band festivals. He also appeared frequently as an adjudicator and clinician at concert band, stage band, field show and parade events. He was awarded the “Key to the City of Carlisle” by Mayor Wise in 1966, the distinguished “Hixon Award” from Carlisle Kiwanis and was chosen as the “Kiwanian of the Year” 1999-2000.
He was chosen to receive the 1971 “Molly Pitcher Award” from the Exchange Club, and awarded Carlisle’s special honor, the “Citizen of the Year Award”. He was awarded the coveted “MAC Award” for bandmasters and the “Outstanding Young Men of America Award”. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and Masonic Lodge 260.
From 1977-81, Mr. Barr Served as Director of Programs for the Music competitions at all Six Flags Parks and served as organizer and director for the 500-person All-Virginia Marching Band and Chorus as well as three years with All Student Groups European Tour, based out of Winchester, VA. For over almost four decades, Mr. Barr and his wife owned and operated Educational Travel Experiences, which coordinated many educational and music-related travel for various groups. Local high school and college groups from Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Valley, Big Spring, Boiling Springs, Shippensburg and Dickinson College traveled with his company, as well as groups from as far away as Hawaii and Luxembourg.
Many community members traveled on their many tours of Europe, Russia and North America. He founded, conducted and served as Tour Director for “The Sound of America Honor Band & Chorus” for 35 successful concert tours. This ensemble enabled thousands of young aspiring musicians from across the country to audition, travel and perform throughout Europe representing the United States.
Standing-room only Bon Voyage concerts were normally held at Dickinson College or Elizabethtown College. He founded “The Young Presbyterian Singers” choir, also of national scope, which also made several performance tours of Europe. Mr. Barr was president of North American Music Festivals for 35 years, which offered musical adjudications and competitions for hundreds of high school music ensembles in various locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Mr. Barr served as Choir Director at First Presbyterian Church for many years. He organized and served as Parade Chairman of the 250th Anniversary Celebration of Cumberland County Grand Feature Parade in 2000, which was the county’s largest parade ever, featuring over 600 individual units. Through his musical endeavors, Mr. Barr also has received letters of commendation from various governors, ambassadors, state and federal legislators, Presidential First Ladies and U.S. Presidents.
With The Sound of America and local assistance, Mr. Barr helped raise $46,000 for families of Engine 6 FDNY that perished on 9/11. Mr. Barr enjoyed spending time with friends, and loved having time with his family and pets. He enjoyed nature, traveling the world, and taking cruises with friends and family.
Naturally, he loved attending musical performances, but he also enjoyed watching sports like baseball and football. He is remembered for his kind and humorous nature, his ability to motivate and inspire, and to make students believe in themselves. A Memorial Service, “A Celebration of the Life of Clyde Barr”, is to be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in the Parish Activity Center, 85 Marsh Drive Carlisle, PA 17015.
A small graveside military service will be held at Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville on June 21, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: the Clyde Barr Scholarship c/o the CHS Band Boosters, PO Box 114, Carlisle PA 17013. Checks should be made payable to, “CHS Band Boosters” with “Clyde Barr Scholarship” in the memo line.
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