Barr was a graduate of Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. Before joining the Cleveland Orchestra in September 2002, he played with the New World Symphony in Miami and was principal bass of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

He was the son of musician parents: his father, Eric, is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory and recently retired as principal oboe of the Dallas Symphony, and his mother is also an oboist, according to the Plain Dealer.

Thomas Sperl, who shared a music stand with Barr for four years, told the newspaper, "He was a phenomenal bass player. He was very honest and very direct. He loved conversation."

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that the Cleveland Orchestra's concert last night began with a tribute to Barr, with the Air "on the G String" from Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3.