Philip Baker, organ, bass

Philip Baker is a native Texan, who began musical studies with his mother at age 4 and began playing the organ for church at age thirteen. He received a BA (major in organ, minor in geology and French) from Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas, a MM in choral conducting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and has done further graduate study at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. His major organ instructors have been Nita Akin, David Lumsden and Leonard Raver. His choral conducting study has been with Lloyd Pfautsch and Robert Fountain.

Philip Baker was in the Music Ministry of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas from 1959 until 1993. During that time the ministry grew in many ways, including the addition of two significant pipe organs and a carillon. Mr. Baker served on the Organ Faculty at SMU from 1960 until 1963, and has begun the organ studies of several young people who have gone on to achieve national and international recognition. He is Past-President of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Worship, Music and Other Arts, Past Director of the National Open Competition in Organ Playing sponsored by the American Guild of Organists. He has served on the Section on Worship, Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, as well as the Board of the Choristers Guild. He is author and composer of numerous published works. His wife, Tissa, is also a musician. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Philip Baker is current organist at St. Mary's Cathedral in Austin.