Michael Conway Baker

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Michael Conway Baker (born March 13, 1937 in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA) is a Canadian composer resident in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

After self-teaching basic music theory as a child, Baker moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1958 at which time he began formal piano studies. Subsequently, Baker studied music at the University of British Columbia, receiving Bachelor of Music degree in 1966. Baker became a Canadian citizen in 1970 and has resided more or less continuously in the Vancouver area since his arrival.

Baker has composed numerous scores for film, television and has over 100 concert works to his credit for which he has received many awards. Included in his awards are four Genie Awards (The Grey Fox 1983, Deserters 1984, John and the Missus 1987), one Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year (Concerto For Piano and Chamber Orchestra, 1992) and two Gemini Awards (A Planet for the Taking). He has composed for the National Ballet of Canada, Fanfare to Expo '86 in Vancouver, and music for several episodes of Road to Avonlea. In 1997, Baker was awarded the Order of British Columbia. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada inducted Michael Conway Baker into the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame in November, 2006.

Within the Canadian music circles, he is somewhat well known for having composed Vancouver Variations, used as the theme music for the CBC Radio Two program Here's to You.

Michael Conway Baker spent seventeen years as an elementary school teacher and currently resides in North Vancouver with his wife, manager and lyricist, Penny Anne Baker.

[edit] References

  • Michael Conway Baker official site [1]
  • Government of British Columbia, Protocol and Events Branch, Order of British Columbia, Biographies, 1997 [2]
  • Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [3]
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