J. Bradley Baker

Style: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Title: Assistant Professor of Piano

Bio:

American pianist J. BRADLEY BAKER enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, collaborative artist and coach, educator, and music administrator.

A National Finalist for the 2020 American Prize in Solo Piano, Baker's performances have been heard in concert halls throughout the United States, France, and Canada. He has been recorded by the Navona Records and Centaur Records labels and broadcast on public radio stations throughout the United States and United Kingdom. Baker has recently presented solo recitals for the Atelier Concert Series of the American Church in Paris (FRANCE), Charleston Arts Society (MO), Henderson Civic Club (TX), Sandzén Gallery Concert Series (KS), Steinway Gallery Artist Series (AL). Always interested in multi-disciplinary work, Baker regularly partners with artists, dancers, and writers to present repertoire in new and exciting ways. In demand as a collaborative pianist, Baker is a Principal Coach with The Glimmerglass Festival, where 2023 will see him work as Principal Coach on the La bohème and coach Young Artists and serve as pianist for multiple Festival events. In 2023, Baker will also work with Lyric Opera of Orange County (Asst. Conductor, Two Remain), Opera Arlington (Guest Coach, Cosi fan Tutte), and Landlocked Opera (Music Director, Le nozze di Figaro). A 2020 Young Artist Pianist-Coach of The Glimmerglass Festival, Baker has also worked with Opera Naples (Faculty Coach, Resident Artist Program), Chicago Summer Opera (Music Director, One Acts and Scenes), Franco-American Vocal Academy (Principal Coach), Wichita Grand Opera (Head Coach), Natchez Festival of Music (Repetiteur), Opera Birmingham (Pianist), Music On Site (Music Director), Tabor College Opera (Music Director), and University of Alabama Opera Theatre (Asst. Music Director). He has collaborated with many international artists, including opera superstar bass-baritone Samuel Ramey, bass-baritone William Powers, tenor Michael Sylvester, and tenor Issachah Savage. Baker has presented collaborative research at Kansas Music Teachers Association State Conference, the national conference of the National Opera Association, and Collabfest. He is also a staff pianist for The Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition, and the Co-Chair of the Pianists and Conductors Committee of the National Opera Association. Baker also was a pianist-coach intern for the 2019 NATS Intern Program, where he was mentored by pianist-coach JJ Penna.

As a chamber musician, Baker founded the Kansas Piano Trio, an ensemble with a mission of performing underrepresented repertoire in rural Midwestern communities. With the Kansas Piano Trio, Baker presented the Kansas premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s exciting Piano Trio. He has worked with cellists Leonid Shukaev, Christopher Adkins, and Jeffrey Lastrapes, violist Daniel Sweaney, flutist Nicole Esposito, and French hornist Patrick Hughes, among others. Baker has also presented chamber performances at Hot Springs Music Festival, the North American Viola Institute, ClarinetFest, the International Double Reed Society Conference, The National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and the Texas Music Teachers Association Conference. Chamber coaches include Elizabeth DeMio, Anita Pontremoli, Virginia Weckstrom, Paul Kantor, Yi-Fang Huang, and Cleveland Quartet founding member Peter Salaff. Baker has performed for collaborative classes of renowned pedagogues and performers Robert Vernon, Jeffrey Irvine, Heidi Castelman, Warren Jones, and Margo Garrett. Since 2016, Baker has been the principal pianist and celesta for Wichita Symphony Orchestra. He has also held similar roles at Hot Springs Music Festival, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Institute of Music. He has played under the batons of conductors Daniel Hege, Peter Bay, Teddy Abrams, Adam Flatt, Mark Laycock, Michael Hanawalt, William Waldrop, Domenico Boyagian, Beth Everett, Andy Anderson, Carl Topilow, Jay Dean, Martin Mazak, and Ron Spigelman.

Baker is the Executive Director and Music Director of Music On Site, Inc., an opera company based in central Kansas, which has a mission of increasing the accessibility of opera throughout the region by producing engaging performances at low or no cost for underserved communities. In 2022, Music On Site reached more than 10,000 individuals in thirteen performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors, Suor Angelica, Carmen, and Cosi fan Tutte. Each season, Music On Site presents performances in rural communities, schools, and areas with limited access to the arts. More information on Music On Site can be found at www.musiconsite.org.

Passionate about providing quality education to promising young musicians, Dr. Baker is Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano at Tarleton State University, in Stephenville, Texas, where he teaches Piano, Class Piano, Aural Skills, and Music Theory. As part of his role, he also serves as the collaborative pianist for all department events, the choral program, and as coach for the musical theatre productions. In 2022, Dr. Baker received the University Junior Faculty Award, given in recognition of demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarly or creative activities, and service by a junior faculty member. Previous to Tarleton State University, Dr. Baker was Director of Keyboard Studies at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, where he taught Music Theory, Class Piano, Applied Piano, Collaborative Piano, and served as the collaborative pianist for the Department. He also was Music Director for the Opera Program, coached voice students twice weekly, and collaborated with campus guest artists. While at Tabor College, Dr. Baker founded the Bach Keyboard Festival and Competition, a highly successful annual celebration of Bach’s work and life that included a performance and masterclass by an international guest keyboard artist, scholarly sessions, and competitions for pianists and organists. In addition to his work at the College, Dr. Baker directed the Tabor College Preparatory School, which served a large portion of the area community by providing high quality musical training in piano, voice, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Under his directorship, the Preparatory School experienced an enrollment growth of more than 150%. Baker has also held appointments at The University of Alabama, University of Texas at Tyler, Stillman College, and Judson College.

Highly active in service to the musical community, Dr. Baker is Immediate-Past President of Kansas Music Teachers Association. He was recently named the recipient of the 2021 KMTA Service Award for his years of service to the organization, which includes hosting the 2019 State Conference, publishing the KMTA newsletter twice annually for four consecutive years, serving as the Collaborative Music Chair for two years, and presenting sessions at three State Conferences. On the local level, Baker has presented numerous sessions for local chapters and serving as clinician for many statewide piano events. As an adjudicator, he has judged for MTNA Young Artist Competition, Kansas Music Teachers Association State Auditions, Mississippi State Auditions, among many other local and regional festivals and competitions. As a master clinician, Baker has presented classes at University of North Texas, Kansas State University, Columbus State University, University of Tennessee, University of Kentucky, Emporia State University, Washburn University, University of Arkansas, Northwest Missouri State University, Northeast Oklahoma State University, and many more.

Dr. Baker graduated magna cum laude from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and was awarded the Theodore Pressor Scholar award. He went on to earn the prestigious William Kurzban award while completing his Master of Music in piano performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2014, Baker completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from The University of Alabama. Instructors include Sandra Siler, Robert Groves, Daniel Shapiro, and Noel Engebretson, with additional work with Robert Roux and Paul Schenly.

Voice Type: Not Applicable

Music Styles Taught: Opera; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a performer; I am currently accepting private students; I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program

Contact Information