Conductor

Joshua Barlage holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Capital University Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers have included Nicholas J. Perrini on horn, conducting with William Boggs and composition with Dr. Rocky J. Reuter. 

Mr. Barlage has held assistant conducting positions with Opera Columbus, Columbus Light Opera and the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras. As an assistant with Opera Columbus, Mr. Barlage worked with renowned guest conductors and soloists, preparing opera choruses and covering main stage rehearsals and performances. In March 2002, Mr. Barlage led performances of Susan Kander’s Somebody’s Children, a youth opera for three soloists, youth chorus and small ensemble; based on the story of the orphan trains in post-Civil War America.

On the personal invitation of Maestro Peter Stafford Wilson, Mr. Barlage accompanied the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra on their highly successful tour to The People’s Republic of China in June 2005 and led the CSYO on a series of fully staged performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with dancers from Columbus Youth Ballet Academy.

Guest Conducting engagements have included the Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra, Drake University Orchestra and, in September 2024, Mr. Barlage led the Together Through Sound Festival Orchestra in the culminating concert of a day-long music festival in Des Moines featuring headlining bass/vocalist Blake Shaw. 

Apart from his conducting duties, Mr. Barlage serves as the Managing Director of the Des Moines Symphony Academy. Affiliated with the Des Moines Symphony, the Symphony Academy is a full-fledged community music school offering students in Central Iowa the very best in music education and performance opportunities.