Thierry Barbé is Principal bassist of the Opéra National de Paris Orchestra and a professor of double bass at both the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the Conservatoire National Régional de Saint-Maur.

Born in Metz, France, Thierry studied piano and double bass while pursuing a degree in science. He later dedicated himself entirely to music at the CNSMDP.

With the Opéra National, Thierry played with many respected conductors and for 10 years shared a stand with François Rabbath, who later became his teacher. At the Capbreton Academy Thierry met Thomas Martin, who became a true mentor and shared passions for Bottesini and pedagogy. It was partly due to this meeting that in 1999, Thierry succeeded Pierre Hellouin as president of the Association des Bassistes et Contrebassistes de France, working with a great team including the eminent Claudine Petiot.

Thierry was also a part of the Paris Bass 2008 convention organising committee, collaborating with ISB president Hans Sturm. Additionally, he served as a board member for the International Society of Bassists. Together with Marin Béa, Thierry is the artistic director of the Biarritz International Bass Academy, a summer camp for bassists held every August for the past six years.