Kent Philip Baker

Educational History

1986 – 1989 - Illinois State University, Music Education, studied Horn with Dr. Joseph Neisler and Composition with Dr. Roque Cordero

​

1995 - Basic Military Training – The USAF, Lackland AFB, TX Graduate

​

2000 - NCO Academy – The USAF, Tyndall AFB, FL, Honor Graduate

​

2004 - FEMA Certificates in Disaster Preparedness, Radiological Disaster Preparedness, and Chemical Disaster Preparedness

​

2019-Present - George Mason University, Music Composition, studies Horn with Dr. Amy Horn, Studies Music Composition with Mark Camphouse

Teaching History (abridged)

1988-2008 - Staff, Normal Community HS, Normal, IL, BOA Regional Finalist and Class Champion, Drill/Music Designer, Brass Caption Head, Visual Tech, George York, Supervisor

​

1990-1995 - Director of Bands, Central Catholic HS, Bloomington, IL, Illinois State Concert Band Invitational Finalist, Joy Allen, Supervisor

​

1991-1996 - Music Theory Faculty, Music for All Summer Symposium, Concert Band Track, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

​

1992-1994 - Brass Staff, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Rosemont, IL, DCI Champions, Gordon Henderson/Jeff Fiedler, Supervisors

​

1995-2002 - Staff, Normal West HS, Normal, IL, BOA Grand Nationals Semi-Finalist, BOA Regional Finalist and Class Champion, Drill/Music Designer, Lisa Preston, Supervisor

​

2004-Present - Program Coordinator, James Madison HS, Vienna, VA, Drill/Music Designer, BOA Grand Nationals Semi-Finalist, BOA Regional Champion, Finalist, and Class Champion, VA State Champions 2018 and 2019, Music Caption Head, Visual Tech, Michael Hackbarth, Supervisor

​

2016 - Guest Lecturer in Music Composition, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK

​

2014-2016 - Visual Staff, The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Allentown, PA, DCI Bronze Medalist and Finalist, Austin Greene, Supervisor

Performance History (abridged)

1983-1985 - Carbondale/SIU Civic Orchestra, Principal Horn, Dr. Michael Haines, Conductor

1988-1995 - Peoria Symphony Orchestra, 3rd Horn, Dr. William Wilson, Conductor

​

1995-2018 - The United States Air Force Band, Horn, Composition, Asst. Drum Major, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, DC, Col. Dennis Layendecker/Col. Larry Lang, Commanders and Conductors

​

1996-2003 - The Arlington Players, Horn, Gary Mead, Director

​

1998-2000 - Capitol Wind Symphony, Asst. Principal Horn, Northern VA

​

2001-Present - The Quintessential Brass Quintet, Springfield, VA, Horn, Arranger

​

2002-Present - The Beltway Brass, Fredericksburg, VA, Horn, Arranger

​

2019-Present - Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, 2nd Horn, Woodbridge, VA

Design History (abridged)

Drill/Staging Designer: (Band) James Madison HS, VA***, South Lakes HS, VA*, Normal Community HS, IL**, Normal West HS, IL***, Thomas Jefferson HS, VA*, Oakton HS, VA, Chantilly HS, VA*, (Percussion) Francis Howell Central, MO##, Chantilly HS, VA##, (Guard), Normal Comm. HS, IL##, Normal West HS, IL#, James Madison HS, VA#, Illinois State University, IL

​

Music Designer (Winds), James Madison HS, VA**, O’Fallon Township HS, IL**, Chantilly HS, VA**, South Lakes HS, VA*, Thomas Jefferson HS, VA*, Normal West HS, IL***, Normal Community HS, IL**, Connor HS, KY*, Oakton HS, VA, South Lakes HS, VA* (Perc) Sanderson HS, NC, McDonough HS, MD

​

Guard Designer: Images Winter Guard (Normal Community HS), IL##^^, Normal West Winter Guard, Normal, IL, Thomas Jefferson HS, VA, Danville HS, IL#, Illinois State University, IL, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS, IL,, Harrisonburg HS, IL

​

Military Design: Drill design for Tattoo Ceremonies, Flash Mob, staging and logistics, The USAF Band, 2014-present

***BOA Grand National Semi-Finalist

**BOA Regional Class Champion

*BOA Regional Finalist

##WGI Regional Champion

#WGI Regional Finalist

^WGI Finalist

^^WGI Finalist and Bronze Medalist

Recent Compositions and Composition Competition Winners (abridged)

Four Short Pieces - For Flute and Horn, commissioned by Tara Islas and Amy Horn of The McLean Orchestra, premiered March, 2015.

​

Wichita Falls, After the Rain - Composed for the Musica Merida (Yucatan, Mexico) Composition Competition, Winner of the 2015 Composition Competition, premiered July, 2016.

​

75.29.30 - Composed for the 75 Anniversary of The USAF Band, premiered August, 2016, by The USAF Band Ceremonial Brass, Winner, The USAF Media Competition, Large Ensemble.

The Tannhauser Gate - Composed for the Dallas Winds, premiered July, 2017, Winner, 2016 Dallas Winds Fanfare Competition.

​

On the Evening Horizon - Commissioned for Euphonium Soloist Brandon Jones, premiered April, 2017 by the Oklahoma City University Wind Philharmonic.

​

In Pursuit - Commissioned by Oboe Soloist Tracey McDonald and The USAF Band, premiered by The USAF Band Symphony Orchestra, June, 2016, and The USAF Band Concert Band, March, 2017.

​

The Eternity Gate - Commissioned for Barclay Brass, MD, premiered August, 2017.

 Winner in the 2017 Dallas Winds Fanfare Composition Competition.

​

The Bearer of Evil Tidings - Winner of the 2017 15 Minutes of Fame Composition Contest and the 2020 reNEW Music Micro-Commission.

​

The Common Good - Composed for Bay Colony Brass, MA, premiered March 2018, - Winner, Colony Bay Brass Composition Competition.

​

Sonata for Tuba and Piano - Composed for Dr. Ryan Robinson, Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, Oklahoma City University, OK, premiered April 2018.

Symphony #1 "Seneca Falls," - Composed for the Grand Valley State University Wind Ensemble, commissioned from winning the Grand Valley State University Composition Competition, premiered April, 2019.

​

The Lion's Gate - Composed for the George Mason University Symphonic Band, John Kilkenny, Conductor, premieres February 25th, 2020.

​

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave - Composed for the Dallas Winds,  (premiere postponed), Winner, 2019 and 2020 Dallas Winds Fanfare Competition.

​

Archetypes - Finalist in the 2020 North State Symphony "Beethoven Idol" Composition Contest, Scott Seaton, Director.

​

Scenes from an American Childhood - Winner of the 2020 District New Music Call for Scores, premiered September 28th, 2020.

​

Machine - for Horn and Synthesizer, submission to the 2020 International Horn Society Composition Competition.

​

Divi Augustus - for SATB Acapella Choir, submission to the 2020 Kings Singers Choral Composition Competition.

It Was Bound to Rain - for SATB Choir and Piano, submission to the 2020 Rachel Moore Choral Composition Competition.

​

Sonata for Flute and Piano - for Samantha Clarke

​

Composition Consortiums

2020 - Carolina Chamber Consortium, Charlotte, NC, Joshua Potter, Providence High School, Supervisor

​

2020 - Fairfax County Virtual Consortium, Fairfax County, VA Michael Hackbarth, James Madison High School, Supervisor

​

Judging Experience (abridged)

1988-1991 - Drum Corps Midwest, Visual, Guard, Tom Colla, Supervisor

​

1999-Present - Atlantic Indoor Association, VA/NC, (Guard) Design Analysis and General Effect (Percussion) Visual, Effect Visual, Effect Music, Doug Casteen and Daniel Valadie, Supervisors.

​

2007 - Winter Guard International, Percussion Visual Analysis

​

2014-Present - Atlantic Indoor Association Percussion Judges' Advisory Board

​

2016-Present -  Virginia Marching Band Cooperative, Music, Effect, Visual, Doug Casteen, Supervisor

2017- 2019 - WGI Winds Judge

2019-Present - Atlantic Indoor Association Percussion Judges' Coordinator

Publications (abridged)

Fall 1990 - “Programming in the Pageantry Arts,” Today’s Music Educator, Dr. Rosalie Sward, Editor (with Keith Baker)

​

Spring 2001 - AFMAN 35-106, Ceremonial Music (USAF), the single source for the use of music in USAF Ceremonies

http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/saf_pa/publication/afman35-106/afman35-106.pdf

​

Aug 2007 - “A System of Inequality,” School Band and Orchestra, also used as an educational tool for the Judging Academy

https://judgesacademy.com/a-system-of-inequality/

​

Fall 2017 - “Process Improvements in the Pageantry Arts,” Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association Newsletter

​

Fall 2020 - "Never Alone," Poem published by Eber and Wein in the Fall of 2020

​

October 2020 - "Hearts and Minds," Poem published by NoVa Bards, Chantilly, VA

​

Residencies

2020 - The Westben Composer/Performer Residency, Campbellford, Ontario, Canada

​

Professional Organizations

​

Member - American Composer's Forum

Member - Tau Sigma Honors Society

​

Represented by ASCAP

References