Barrett Phillips He was Born to Entertain! By Donnita Fisher
Photo by Ethan Good.
B
arrett Phillips can’t remember a time he didn’t want to be singing. “My first time performing in front of an audience was in the pre-school church choir,” the 22-yearold said. It was the start of what Barrett knows will be a lifetime of crooning and, hopefully, a career. “My end goal is to be able to use my singing in my career,” he said. “Whether that be as a full-time worship leader, in fulltime musical theater or a recording contract.” Barrett was booked as the entertainment for the Murphy Veterans Tribute Gala planned for September. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of that event this year, but when it’s rescheduled, Barrett will be there singing away. “I do all kinds of shows,” he said. “I do restaurants, wedding receptions, birthday parties, galas, ambient dinner music, boutiques … pretty much if someone needs live music, I can be there!” The second son of Wylie residents Scott and Lori (Caskey) Phillips’ four boys – Gus, 25, Barrett, 22, Grayson, 18, and Gage, 17, Barrett said his brothers have always supported his musical inclination. “My brothers and pretty much everyone I have known – for the most part – have supported my singing,” he said. Barrett’s younger brothers, his mom, and his maternal grandfather all sing, too, Barrett said. “I can’t recall ever being bullied, but my whole life I’ve been an athlete as well, and I don’t think I’m the type to be bullied,” the 6-feet-2-inch-tall Barrett laughed. “I’ve been raised to stand up for myself and to be confident, so I think potential bullies see that and move on.” From the first kids’ chorus at First Baptist Church Wylie,
Barrett followed his love of music to the Collin County children’s chorus. As a second grader he was a founding member of the chorus and contin- Barrett playing the title roll in the Wylie HS ued to sing and take vocal musical production of Shrek lessons for the next 10 years. “I can’t give the Children’s Chorus of Collin County enough credit,” Barrett said. “They helped me in every way possible. I honestly don’t know where to start or how to put it into words. Every aspect of being a musician I learned there. “I learned to blend with a choir so my voice doesn’t stick out, confidence, vowel shapes, pitch matching. I made friends. “Honestly, the CCCC helped me in ways that have nothing to do with vanilla singing. I learned how to lead people as well. I was a section leader in the choir, and I helped my fellow singers to sound like a group and get the notes right. … I could probably write a book on my experiences there.” Practicing on one’s own “is fine and dandy,” according to Barrett. “But in my experience, the most growth I have ever had as a singer has been through choir and voice lessons. I still take voice lessons to this day. “If you are a young person who wants to sing, join a choir outside of school along with your school choir. Also learn either guitar or piano – preferably both! There is no one in the world who regrets learning to play an instrument.” After graduation from Wylie High School in 2016, Barrett graduated in 2018 from the University of Mary
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