Tom Barry is a member of the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, School of Music in Cedar Falls.
He teaches both applied oboe and saxophone. In earlier years, he taught classes in audio recording techniques and guitar, and was the director of Jazz Band II at UNI from 1989 to 1991. He also supervises the audio recording and sound reinforcement for all recitals and concerts in the School of Music.

Mr. Barry plays oboe and saxophone with Northwind Quintet, an ensemble in residence at the UNI School of Music, and is a frequent soloist with bands and orchestras around the state. In addition, he is principal oboist in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, and has performed jazz and dance music with his own quintet throughout northeast Iowa. Although he is primarily a performer and teacher, Barry has engineered numerous CDs, tapes and records over the years, and is currently concert sound technician for the Salsa band, Orquesta Alto Maiz.

Tom Barry holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He taught instrumental music in the Jefferson County public school system in Denver, Colorado before joining the music faculty at the University of Northern Iowa in 1973.