Robert A. Baker is an active composer, pianist and conductor. His compositions have been performed in Canada by numerous performers and presenters including Esprit Orchestra, The Standing Wave Ensemble, the Composer’s Quartet, The New Guitar, Elgin String Trio, The Great Lakes Duo, and toneART ensemble (of which Baker is a founding member). Baker’s music has also been performed in the United States, Wales, Italy and the Czech Republic, and been broadcast on CBC*SRC Radio Canada. Baker’s works have received international recognition from “Jihlava 2000” International Choral Composition Competition, Czech Republic (3rd prize), and the Sixth International Contemporary Music Contest, Città di Udine, Itlay (Finalist) in 2006. Commercial recordings of Baker’s music are available on classical guitarist Danielle Cumming’s 2001 début CD, Postcards (cuerdas 701), and the self-titled 2003 recording by toneART ensemble (tA 1103-2). To sample excerpts from these recordings and more, visit Baker’s homepage at the Canadian Music Centre at www.musiccentre.ca

Baker is an experienced conductor of both orchestral and choral music, and since 1991 has held various Music Director and Guest Conductor posts for orchestras and choirs including Brampton Symphony, Scarborough Cathedral Bluffs Symphony, St. Pat’s Players (Gilbert and Sullivan company), as well as St. Cyprian’s Anglican and St. John’s United church choirs.
Baker is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. Composition programme at McGill University in Montréal, Canada, studying under composer John Rea. His dissertation includes an original monodrama for tenor and ensemble, as well as extensive research into compositional strategies in relation to spatiotemporality in twentieth century opera.