Barry Olson currently serves as principal bassist with The Phoenix Symphony. He is also a string specialist with the Mesa Public Schools where he teaches strings at Franklin East Elementary School.
Barry has previously held positions with the Flagstaff Festival Orchestra (principal bass); Philharmonica de Los Americas, Mexico City; and the Aspen Festival Orchestra. Solo appearances with The Phoenix Symphony, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra, and guest appearances with the Borodine String Trio, Eudice Shapiro, and Joel Krosnic (Julliard Quartet) are also among his credits.
He has been a guest conductor for several orchestras throughout the state including the Arizona Elementary All-State Orchestra, and has served as a guest conductor for the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association High School Regional Orchestra.
Barry received his bachelor's degree in music from Arizona State University and his master's degree from Northwestern University. Until recently, Barry has spent part of every summer with his wife and three daughters in Flagstaff, where he was been on the music faculty for twenty one years.
Barry maintains an active private studio and is in demand as a clinician throughout Arizona.