Benjamin R. Barker (b. 1995) is an award-winning music educator, composer and woodwind specialist living in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. He is a graduate of Whitworth University with a bachelor's in music composition (where he studied under professor Brent Edstrom) and music education, where he was awarded the crystal apple award for exemplary teaching. During his time at Whitworth, Barker wrote numerous compositions for performance by students and staff, and performed regularly around the northwest alongside musicians from multiple surrounding universities, the Coeur d'Alene Symphony, and Spokane Symphony. Barker is the winner of the 2024 Alton Augustus Adams Sr. Award for Emerging Composers and 2013 ASBDA Composer’s Competition. He is a two-time finalist for the William D. Revelli Composition Contest (2023 and 2024), Julie Giroux's 2023 call for scores and the 2018 John Kuzma Young Composer’s Award, as well as a semifinalist in the 2024 Morton Gould Young Composer's Contest. He made his international debut in 2023 with his piece Bamboo Shoots and City Streets in Takasaki, Japan, and has since had his music performed around the world including the United States, Japan and Thailand. Barker has written pieces for a variety of ensembles, including solos, chamber groups, wind ensemble, strings, choir and symphony orchestra. He currently directs the jazz band and teaches multilingual learners at The United School of Tokyo.