[1] His parents were Mary (née Lewis) and Thomas Barrett, a violinist.
His mother was from Dinas Mawddwy, Wales,[2] where he began his education.
[2][3] He began his career as a flautist by 1868, playing for the Italian Opera.
In addition to a number of performances for Queen Victoria,[2][4] he performed in concerts and music festivals in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.
[2] D. Emlyn Evans said of his performances, "Those who have heard Mr Barrett's solo work, whether in opera or at festivals, or playing obligato to one of the queens of song on the concert platform, can well understand and endorse Queen Victoria’s appreciation of his quality of tone…"[4] Between 1883 and 1910, he taught the flute at the Royal College of Music.