ERIC BAKER BRINGS AMERICAN SPIRIT TO WEST TEXAS SYMPHONY!
Eric Baker’s journey with the West Texas Symphony spans two decades of memorable performances, but his upcoming spotlight performance promises something uniquely American.
“I have never performed under a better leader, conductor or musician,” Baker said of West Texas Symphony maestro Gary Lewis. “He’s such a vital part of our orchestra.”
Baker, co-principal trumpet for the West Texas Symphony orchestra, and director of community engagement for music and arts at the University of Texas Permian Basin, will perform “American Nomad” by composer Steve Heitzeg during the symphony’s upcoming concert on at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. The three-movement piece takes audiences on a musical journey across the United States, from New York’s Ellis Island to the Pacific Ocean.
“It’s a real celebration of the American spirit,” Baker said. “All of us can relate to the themes of the American spirit, traveling, seeing the United States from coast to coast.”
The performance features an unusual twist — Baker will improvise jazz elements in real time throughout the piece. “There will be moments during the piece where I’m not playing the notes that the composer has written,” he explained. “He has just said, ‘All right, these are your chord changes. Just go ahead and improvise over those particular chords.’”
Baker’s connection to the West Texas Symphony runs deep. He celebrated a milestone at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center’s opening in 2011, performing a trumpet concerto as a guest artist with the West Texas Symphony.
“That was really special, because the orchestra just felt like a top-level group having such a beautiful performance space to perform,” he said.
The symphony holds special meaning for Baker’s family as well. His wife, Emily, and daughters — Piper, Keller and Harper — have performed alongside him with the orchestra and his wife is also the director of Voices of the Permian Basin, the youth choir.
“Giving a few opportunities for myself to perform with my own children on the stage of the Wagner with the orchestra backing us up is very, very meaningful,” Baker said. “Those will be memories I take with me forever.”
He noted the symphony’s family-oriented nature makes it unique.
“That speaks really well to the West Texas Symphony being really like a community group and a very family-based orchestra,” Baker said. “You have lots of families that are involved in the orchestra, husbands and wives or parents and children.”
SUPPORT THE WEST TEXAS SYMPHONY WITH YOUR DONATION
IBaker has found a home in West Texas. “When I think about the people who say, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to get out of West Texas,’ I can’t help but think, man, if I were to go anywhere else in the world and start over and try to build what I have here, I don't know if I could do it,” Baker said.
Beyond the symphony, Baker serves as interim coordinator for UTPB’s music department and president of the West Texas Jazz Society board.
For those who have never attended a symphony performance, Baker offers this invitation: “If you’ve never been to the orchestra, but you’re looking for an opportunity to hear some music that you can really relate to, this is the concert to come to.”
You can follow Baker in his musical journey by following him on social media @ebtrumpet or by following the West Texas Symphony’s social media by searching West Texas Symphony.
