Ben Baker

Violinist

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Biography

Biography

Ben Baker
Born: 1990
Wellington, New Zealand

Ben began playing the violin at the age of three. He had made six television appearances by the time he was seven, when he played with Nigel Kennedy, who recommended The Yehudi Menuhin School to him. Just before leaving New Zealand with his family in 1998 to take up a scholarship at The Yehudi Menuhin School, Ben, aged eight, was a soloist in a carol concert with an audience of 20,000 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Concert highlights since Ben has been at The Yehudi Menuhin School, where he now studies with Natasha Boyarskaya, include:

February 1999	Soloist in Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins at an Ernest Read concert at the Royal Festival Hall (aged 9).
November 2000	Solo performance at the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, during the Day of Tribute to Yehudi Menuhin (age 10).
June 2001	Lead solo violin in Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins for the National Trust at Polesden Lacey Music Festival (age 11).
May 2002	Mozart 4th Violin Concerto at the Mozart Festival in Istanbul with the Romanian State Radio Orchestra (age 12).
April 2003	Bruch Concerto in G Minor with the NGC Wellington Sinfonia in New Zealand. (age 13).
October 2004	Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor with the Kent Sinfonia in Folkestone. (age 14)
January 2005	Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor with the NGC Wellington Sinfonia in New Zealand broadcast live on Radio New Zealand and the release of Ben’s solo CD, 'Arcadian Strings' which won the Classic FM Next Big Thing Award. (age 15)
April 2006	Sinfonia Concertante violin solo with Luke Turrell (viola) and the London Mozart Players in the Menuhin Hall.
June 2006	Wisley Music Festival with Hayley Westenra and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Arnold.
November 2006	Performance for The Prince’s Trust hosted by Richard Stilgoe at the Menuhin Hall.
May 2007	The Cathcart Spring Prom at The Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Arnold.
July 2007	Tchaikovsky Concerto at the Battle Prom Series with the New English Concert Orchestra conducted by Douglas Coombes.
July 2007	Bath Festival at The Forum. Sarasate Introduction and Ronda Capriccioso with the Bath Philharmonia
Jan 2008	Cleo Laine / John Dankworth Centre at The Stables YCAT recital
April 2008	New Zealand: Wellington and Feilding Recital Concert Tour
May 2008	Opening Concert Bath International Festival, Assembly Rooms, Ravel Quartet
June 2008	Deal Music Festival: Chausson Poeme
July 2008	Leamington Spa Music Festival: Vaughan Williams Concerto with the Menuhin Senior Orchestra
July 2008	Montpellier, France at Le Corum, salle Pasteur: Radio France Festival
October 2008	Purcell Room, Vaughan Williams Violin Concerto (British-Israeli Music Day)
January 2009	Cleo Laine / John Dankworth Centre at The Stables YCAT recital

Ben’s Other Activities:-

In 2000 Ben won a McDonalds/Disney 'Millenium Dreamers' Award for his work in raising money for World Vision and other charities by many years of busking. As part of his Award he participated with 2,000 other children from around the world at an international conference in Florida at Disneyworld for 5 days. He first sponsored a World Vision child by busking when he was 5 years old and has continued to sponsor children for the last 11 years.

Since 2002 The Rotary Club of Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand made Ben an Honorary International Rotary Club Member for his achievements and also his commitment to raising money for children less fortunate than himself.

Ben plays the piano and also composes. Several of his compositions have been performed in concerts at the Menuhin School and he played his duet ‘Aotearoa Themes’ with his sister on radio and television in New Zealand. He leads and participates (including playing viola on occasion) in several string quartets.

Ben and his sister, Rebecca (age 13) raise money through their concerts and CD sales to sponsor two children through World Vision in Ghana, and Children in Distress in an HIV orphanage in Romania.