ABOUT
ME
ABOUT Hugh W. Barnes, Jr.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Hugh Westley Barnes, Jr., has always been motivated and determined to succeed. As the second oldest of four, Hugh has always kept family first. Raised with the mindset of the 40/60 rule—40 percent book smarts, 60 percent street smarts—education has always been his key focus after home life. Hugh is the first and only member of his family to receive a college degree.
Hugh Westley Barnes, Jr. earned a bachelor’s degree in Education, a Bachelor of Music degree from Morgan State University, and a master’s from McDaniel College. He is pursuing a Doctor of Music Arts (DMA) in instrumental conducting.
Hugh Westley Barnes, Jr. is a former Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Coppin State University. He is a respected guest clinician and adjudicator for bands, vocals, and national competitions such as NCAA ACT-SO. Additionally, he has created instrumental and vocal music programs in several Baltimore communities.
Professor Barnes has received numerous awards and accolades in his career. However, he considers his students' accomplishments his greatest educational reward. Many of his students have gone on to successful careers as musicians, directors, teachers, performers, educators, recording artists, and managers. He believes there is no more extraordinary gift than seeing the fruits of one's labor blossom and grow into something extraordinary and beautiful.
Professor Barnes is a member of ♪ Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, ♪ National Band Association, ♪ National Association for Music Educators, ♪ Member of International College Band Directors National Association, ♪ trumpeter’s guild, ♪ Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and the ♪ Maryland Music Educators Association.
I CARE MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE MY STUDENTS BECOME THAN THE SCORES ON THE TEST THEY TAKE!
"AS SOON AS CHILDREN FIND SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS THEMTHEY LOSE THEIR INSTABILITY AND LEARN TO CONCENTRATE!" - Dr. Maria Montessori
MY INSPIRATION
Band and sports took the drugs out of my hands and replaced them with a musical instrument, and my teammates became my new family to support me and my growth.
At some point, music and sports stuck with me more and allowed me to express and relieve myself of emotional stress. This helped to calm my angry, savage soul. Without music, sports, and my musical family, I know I would've been dead or in jail easily.
Every music teacher who came into my life changed it for the better; though it was rough for them, it literally took "A Village" to change my life. Around 27-28, I finally got it. My eyes opened to reality when I started working at a high school in Prince George's County, Maryland, with a bunch of mini-mes. Distraught, misguided, unfocused, rough youth, I got to see myself in them, and it forced me to entirely change and grow up as I saw they needed me as I needed my Village to grow and survive death.
Becoming an educator changed my life, and the kids I've been blessed to teach, educate, nurture, mentor, raise, and love are the reason for my full growth as a better person, man, and leader. They are one of the biggest parts of my being alive today.
I just couldn't let those kids down by not being there for them in their time of need, like all my teachers (Village) did for me!!
Testimonies
