John Manley Barnett (3 September 1917 – 6 December 2013) was an American orchestral conductor and musician. He played cornet, trumpet, violin and piano. In 1939, he became the youngest professional symphony conductor in the United States. He toured the world extensively as an orchestral conductor and championed new performers and composers.
Early life and musical education Barnett was born in 1917 in Manhattan, New York, to optician Guy Carlton Barnett and Bernadette Emma (Manley) Barnett.Ancestry.com. New York, New York, Birth Index, 1910–1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Original data: New York City Department of Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images. He began studying music at the age of five, when his mother taught him how to play the piano.
In 1927, when Barnett was ten years old, his family relocated to Englewood, New Jersey."Barnett, Englewood Optician, Dies at 57 – Father of Music Scholar Succumbs at Home to Pneumonia". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 23 Feb. 1937, Bergen Evening ed.: 12. Newspapers.com. Web. 27 Sep 2019. Haworth Grammar School teacher Clifford Demarest of Tenafly, New Jersey, noticed his talent and placed him on trumpet in the school orchestra, where he received musical ensemble training. Barnett continued studying with Demarest through grammar and high school, playing solos in Demarest's Tenafly High School Orchestra and the Beethoven Orchestra of Tenafly, which Demarest had founded. Barnett later conducted Demarest's arrangement "Bach Doric Toccata" (1939) in January 1940.Vreeland, Roger S. "John Barnett to Conduct Clifford Demarest's Work". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 12 Jan. 1940, Bergen Evening ed.: 13. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep 2019.
By 1930 Barnett had received awards for his trumpet and piano playing, winning two silver medals in the Junior Division at the New Jersey State Musical Contest at Newark. He was a freshman at Englewood High School (Dwight Morrow High School), studying with a member of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra who was preparing him to enter the orchestra when he reached the age of 21."Englewood Students Win Music Honors". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 23 Apr. 1930, Bergen Evening ed.: 17. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019. Having played with the Heckscher Symphony Orchestra as cornetist, at the age of 13 he appeared as soloist in the 310th Infantry Band on August 12, 1931, at Winton J. White Stadium."Reveal Program of Infantry Concert – 310th Infantry Band to Play at Stadium August 12". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 7 Aug. 1931, Bergen Evening ed.: 6. Newspapers.com. Web. 9 Oct. 2019.
At the age of 15, he received a five-year scholarship for the period 1932–37 from the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York to learn orchestral conducting, advanced music theory, composition and piano. In 1932 he studied music at Columbia University summer school in New York City, with a four-week extension course in Boston, and entered Carnegie Hall's preparatory course to become a cornetist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra."Cornetist, 15, Studies at College; Will Join Philharmonic Orchestra". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 27 Jul. 1933, Bergen Evening ed. 9. Newspapers.com. Web. 9 Oct. 2019. He had been studying the cornet since the age of ten with Moscow-and-Berlin-trained, New York Philharmonic cornetist/trumpeter Max Schlossberg (1873–1936), who was considered to be "the Founder of the American School of Trumpet Playing in the Twentieth Century".Smith, Andre M. "Max Schlossberg: Founder of The American School of Trumpet Playing in the Twentieth Century", ITG Journal (May 1997), 48nWallace, John, and McGrattan, Alexander. The Trumpet. Yale Musical Instrument Series. Yale University Press, 31 Jan. 2012. Google Books Barnett studied composition and counterpoint with Reginald Mills Silby of New York and Princeton, New Jersey.Vreeland, Roger S. "John Barnett to Study in Europe". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 19 May 1936, Bergen Evening ed.: 21. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019. From 1930 to 1936, he studied violin with Hugo Kortschak, piano with Janet Daniels Schenck (founder of the Manhattan School of Music), and trumpet with Max Schlossberg at the Manhattan School of MusicThe International who is who in Music. United States, Who is Who in Music, Incorporated, Limited, 1951, p. 57. in New York City, where he obtained a Master's degree.John Manley Barnett, Certificate of Death, Supra.
Professional training Barnett began his professional career in 1931, when he was accepted into the National Orchestral Association under conductor Léon Barzin,"Brooklyn Symphony Will Make Debut Wednesday". The Brooklyn Eagle [Brooklyn, New York] 9 Nov. 1941, E42. Newspapers.com. Web. 9 Oct. 2019. with whom he studied conducting for five years. In June 1936, accompanied by Barzin, Barnett sailed to Europe to study for a year in Paris, Romania, London and other European cities."Youth to Study Under Masters – John Barnett, Englewood, Sails Tomorrow". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 4 Jun 1936, Bergen Evening ed.: 12. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019. Funded by a scholarship from the New York Philharmonic Society, the first of its kind,Vreeland, Roger S. "Barnett Sails Today". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 5 Jun. 1936, Bergen Evening ed.: 25. Newspapers.com. Web. 8 Oct. 2019. he studied with composer and conductor of the Orchestre de Paris, George Enescu, in Paris and at Enescu's estate in Romania. Barnett was the only conducting pupil that Enescu ever accepted."Brooklyn Symphony Will Make Debut Wednesday". supra.
Barnett studied at the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria, with conductor Bruno Walter, Felix Weingartner and the Vienna Philharmonic. In Austria, he visited Linz and St. Florian, "the Bruckner cities", and attended the Bruckner Festival.Vreeland, Roger S. "John Barnett at Copenhagen". The Record [Hackensack, NJ] 15 Sep. 1936, Bergen Evening ed.: 25. Newspapers.com. Web. 10 Oct. 2019. He spent six months in Copenhagen and Prague, studying with Russian conductor Nikolai Malko, travelled with Malko through England, Denmark and Russia, and studied operatic conducting in Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev."Ruth A. Gilland Is Engaged to John Barnett – John DeS. Gilland's Daughter Fiancée of Conductor". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 28 Mar 1944, Bergen Evening ed.: 211. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019."Brooklyn Symphony Will Make Debut Wednesday." supra. Barnett spent a year studying conducting in Europe, returning to Paris in the summer of 1937 to resume his studies with Enescu, and returned to the United States later that year. a few months after his father died."Englewood Boy to Study Music – John Barnett to Get Instructions Abroad". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 23 May 1936, Bergen Evening ed.: 3 Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019.
Early career In 1937, Barnett was appointed assistant conductor to Leon Barzin of the National Orchestral Association,"Brooklyn Symphony Will Make Debut Wednesday.". supra. and conducted for the New York Federal Civic Orchestra (part of the WPA Federal Music Project) twice a week in Brooklyn and New York.
In 1939, at the age of 21, he was appointed conductor of the Stamford Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut, retaining his other conducting posts.Vreeland, Roger S. "John Barnett named Stamford Symphony Orchestra conductor". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 21 Nov. 1939, Bergen Evening ed.: 25. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019. At the time he was known as the "youngest professional symphony conductor in the United States." One of his performances involved an appearance at the 1939 New York World's Fair, where he conducted the Federal Knickerbocker Orchestra of New York at the WPA Building on May 28, 1939, part of which was broadcast over WNYC.Freeland, Roger S. "Music News and Views – Barnett To Conduct At Fair Tomorrow." The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 27 May 1939, Bergen Evening ed.: 19. Newspapers.com. Web. 19 Nov. 2019.
Barnett was awarded the position of Principal Conductor of the New York City Symphony Orchestra in 1939 after guest conducting a semester-long Beethoven Cycle at Columbia University. He assisted conductors Thomas Beecham, Fritz Reiner and Otto Klemperer in the New York City Symphony's Carnegie Hall series, taking over two of Klemperer's Carnegie Hall concerts at short notice.
The World War II years (1940s) In 1941, Barnett was appointed conductor of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, a newly-formed, all-professional organization sponsored by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, which made its debut on November 12, 1941. In 1942, he conducted the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, in the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, in the summer series. Before the war he was conductor of the New York City, Brooklyn and Stamford (CT) Symphony Orchestras. Barnett joined the United States Army as a chief warrant officer from 1942 to 1946, enlisting at Yaphank, New York, on February 27, 1942,Fold3.com. WWII Army Enlistment Records (Text only collection). Content Source: The National Archives, Source Box Number 0482, Source Reel Number 2.146. Web. 23 Oct 2019. and during the war he organized bands in military camps in the United States and overseas."Ruth A. Gilland Is Engaged to John Barnett – John DeS. Gilland's Daughter Fiancée of Conductor". supra."Bride of Noted Musician". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 10 Apr 1944, Bergen Evening ed.: 10. Newspapers.com. Web. 27 Sep. 2019."Mrs. Guy C. Barnett of Palisade Avenue Will Leave Friday to Attend the Wedding of Her Son." The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 4 Apr 1944, Bergen Evening ed.: 7. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019. In January 1945 he conducted a War Bond Concert at the Civic Music Center in New York City,Hart, Douglas. "Music News and Views". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 24 Jan 1945, Bergen Evening ed.: 15. Newspapers.com. Web. 8 Oct. 2019. which was broadcast by WQXR Radio."Barnett Back for Furlough – He’ll Lead Orchestra". The Record [Hackensack, New Jersey] 23 Jan 1945, Bergen Evening ed.: Newspapers.com. Web. 9 Oct. 2019. In March 1946, after his discharge from the Army, he was given the Oliver Ditson Award by Columbia University, which allowed him to resume his music career, and he was chosen by the university to conduct at Winston Churchill's honorary degree conferral."John Barnett Fills Orchestra Position". Arizona Republic [Phoenix, Arizona] 4 Jul 1947, p. 7. Newspapers.com. Web. 22 Oct. 2019.
Barnett and his wife relocated to Southern California, where they settled and had three children in the following decade.Ibid.State of California. California Birth Index, 1905–1995. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics. From the fall of 1946 to 1948 he served as associate conductor to Alfred Wallenstein, conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and led the orchestra in nine appearances during the 1946–1947 and 1947–1948 seasons. He conducted the orchestra in two appearances on the coast-to-coast broadcasts of the "Symphonies for Youth" series."Concert Will Be Heard Tuesday – John Barnett to Conduct Symphony Orchestra". The San Bernardino County Sun [San Bernardino, California] 24 February 1951, City ed.: 11. Newspapers.com. Web. 30 Sep. 2019.
During his years in California, Barnett served as associate conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, music director of the Hollywood Bowl and of the Pacific Coast Music Festival, conductor of the Phoenix and San Diego Symphony Orchestras, and for over ten years he also conducted the NBC Network's "Standard Hour" broadcasts of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The weekly live, one-hour broadcasts were sponsored by Standard Oil Company of California showcasing the talents of major orchestras on the West Coast, and broadcast wherever the company's products were sold."Biography of Maestro John Barnett", supra.