George Baker

Events

  • Concert - Stefan Engels - St. James Cathedral - Hutchings-Votey and Rosales Organs
    804 9th Ave
    July 5, 2022 @ 8:45 pm
    Stefan Engels performs Works by Bach, Karg-Elert, and the world premiere performance of George Baker's “Le Tombeau de Jean Langlais” for solo organ. Regarding his new work, Dr. Baker writes, “For many years, I have wanted to honor my teacher and friend Jean Langlais by composing a piece in his honor. Langlais was a master of plainchant; thus, the idea of using chant from the ‘Messe des Morts’ quickly came to mind. The work also honors the great suffering and death of countless people during the Covid-19 pandemic.”    Major funding for this performance is provided by an anonymous donor. 

About

A native of Dallas, George Baker won the AGO National Competition in Organ Playing in 1970. After SMU, he went to Paris to study organ and improvisation as well as to record. He returned to America to teach organ, then entered medical school. Although he obtained his M.D. and became a dermatologist, Dr. Baker never ceased performing, composing, teaching, and recording. 

George Baker received training with some of the finest organ teachers, including Robert Anderson (SMU), Marie-Claire Alain, Pierre Cochereau, Jean Langlais and André Marchal, these last four in Paris.  During his time in France, Baker earned the Prix de Virtuosité with Mention Maximum from the Schola Cantorum, under Langlais. He earned his DMA at the University of Michigan. 

George Baker won first prizes by unanimous jury decisions in several major organ competitions including the American Guild of Organists (Buffalo, 1970), the Grand Prix de Chartres (Chartres, France, 1974) and the International Improvisation Competition (Lyon, France, 1979).  His recording credits include the complete organ works of J. S. Bach and the complete organ works of Louis Vierne, among many others. He has been awarded three French Grand Prix du Disque. 

George Baker’s compositions have been performed by some of the world’s best organists, including Stephen Tharp, Ken Cowan, Daryl Robinson, Nathan Laube, David Briggs, Renée Anne Louprette and Johann Vexo. Baker has served on juries in several prestigious organ competitions including the Grand Prix de Chartres in 2000, 2004 and 2016. Currently, Dr. Baker teaches organ improvisation at SMU in Dallas, Texas. 

George Baker’s website: www.drgeorgebaker.com

Baker’s music webstore: www.baroquenotesmusic.com