Award winning multi-instrumentalist and producer, Adrian Barnett, has performed all across the nation at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to Lollapalooza and toured internationally. He has been a featured soloist with symphony orchestras, jazz big bands, concert wind ensembles, and high-profile touring groups. Adrian also leads his own jazz/fusion/funk group The Questet (which is comprised of a rotating cast of musicians throughout the nation) and the experimental electronic-fusion, multi-instrumental solo project Lakeside Effects.
Adrian has shared the stage with Alma Afrobeat Ensemble (Barcelona, Spain), Bones Jugs, Dave Barnes, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Coffin, Pete Christlieb, Denis DiBlasio, Dynamo, Everyone Orchestra, Escort, Tom Garling, Kirk Garrison, Nachito Herrera, The Hornheads, The Jack Brass Band, JazzMN, Moe, Kevin Mahogany, Andy Martin, The Massacoustics, Chip McNeill, Nashville Composer Collective, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Rome & Duddy (of Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads), Bette Smith, Jim Snidero, Spoon, Sun Stereo, The Temptations, Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, The Thompson Brothers, Fred Wesley, Chris West, Glenn Wilson, Jim Widner, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, and many more.
Adrian earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (2006), a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (2006), and Master of Music in Saxophone/Woodwind Performance (2008) from Minnesota State University, Mankato. After receiving his MM, he returned to Minnesota State University, Mankato as part of the music faculty acting as Interim Director of Jazz Studies. Adrian then moved to Illinois to study with Chip McNeill and Glenn Wilson while completing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies (2018) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2011 Adrian won a DownBeat award in the Jazz Soloist category for his featured performance on the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band’s album Freeplay.
Active not only as a performer, Adrian continues to be involved with music education. He has taught at every level, from beginning band students to advanced music majors. His students have gone on to participate in All-State Jazz and Concert Band ensembles, pursue music majors at universities, have successful careers as music educators, and perform professionally. His work in the music education field has also included directing small and large ensembles, composing music for a wide variety of groups and ensembles, adjudicating festivals, acting as assistant director and head percussion instructor for marching band organizations, and working with music programs throughout the nation as a guest artist and clinician. Alongside a steady performing and clinic schedule Adrian has taught at Minnesota State University, Mankato, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Tennessee State University, Nashville State Community College, and The University of the South in Sewanee, TN. Whenever possible Adrian also teaches private lessons on various instruments and is active as a studio musician and producer.
Adrian is a Yamaha Performing Artist, Vandoren Artist-Clinician, and Hercules Stands Artist.