Bret Barrow is principal trombonist and Executive Director of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. He is an active freelance musician and an adjunct instructor of low brass at Pensacola State College. Bret grew up in Pace, FL where he began playing the trombone in 1990. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and his Master of Music degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He has performed with 15 regional orchestras in seven states and has toured the east coast of the U.S. with the American Wind Symphony and the U.K. with the Fountain City Brass Band. Bret has been featured as a soloist with the Pensacola Civic Band on three occasions, the Pensacola Symphony, the Mississippi Symphony and the USM Concert Band.
While a student, he performed with the USM Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall and as part of the CCM Brass Choir with the Cincinnati Pops on performances and a Telarc recording in Music Hall. A native of Northwest Florida, Bret is grateful to an amazing community that encouraged his early musical pursuits through performance opportunities and instruction. Bret lives in Pensacola with his wife Amy and their two sons, Mason and Owen.