Emily Baker

Vocal Harmony Ensemble, Trad. Folk & Rad Americana Ensemble

Emily Haviland Baker is a locally-grown, up-and-coming performer & music therapist in the Greater-Boston area. She was raised in Essex County in Massachusetts, and was born into a family of musicians. With her parents being a classical pianist and a classical trumpet-player, and her Aunt being a professional violinist in New York City, Emily chose to play the violin at the age of five. She started with the Suzuki method and moved onto a more vigorous path of studying viola at New England Conservatory Preparatory School from 2002 – 2006. There she studied with Gillian Rogel in her final year, and was in Benjamin Zander’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra for her last two. (Some of her other accomplishments during this time: In 2005, Emily received first chair in Massachusetts All-States Orchestra, and also went on a 3 week-long tour of Brazil and Venezuela in 2005 with NEC’s YPO.) Emily studied classical viola for one final year in from 2006-2007 with New England Conservatory’s James Buswell.

After a life-evaluation at the age of 18, Emily decided to step away from music and two years later, entered the corporate-world in an administrative role. Her final two and-a-half years were served as the Administrative Assistant to the SVP of Product at Sperry, a men’s & women’s footwear brand. Another life evaluation was due after year five in her corporate-gig, which is when Emily decided to return to music, newly inspired by the folk and bluegrass scene. After receiving a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and shortly after becoming a full-time student again, she realized that not only was performing in her future, but so was serving her community, and that would be through the channel of music therapy.

Emily graduated from Berklee College of Music in May of 2018, dual-majoring in Music Therapy & Violin Performance with a Minor in American Roots Studies. There she has studied with famous performers like Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, Matt Glaser, Joe Walsh, Dr. David Wallace, Dave Hollander, Tony Trischka, Jason Anick, and Casey Driessen. Emily has performed at an array of different venues, ranging from halls such as New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall and Boston’s infamous Symphony Hall, to venues like the Cantab Lounge, Lizard Lounge, & Atwood’s in Cambridge, MA, as well as Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Fresh Grass Festival, & Newport Folk Festival. She performed at the Newport Folk Festival 2016, backing up Margo Price & Aoife O’Donovan as well as performing with Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings. She has shared the stage with great performers like Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Joe Walsh, Brittany Haas, Tristan Clarridge, Emy Phelps, & Twisted Pine.

 

Visit Emily’s website.