Michael Conway Baker

Michael Conway Baker, a composer born in West Palm Beach, Florida, on 13 March 1937, is a well-known figure in Canadian music, the country he moved to as a composer of American origin. His output moves between concert music and film composition, two fields he has cultivated in parallel throughout his career.

His academic training includes a bachelor's degree in music from the University of British Columbia, obtained in 1966, and a master's degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham, completed in 1971. He also studied privately with Lennox Berkeley in London between 1974 and 1975. Since 1958 he has lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, the city that has been the centre of his professional life.

In terms of style, Baker writes in a generally tonal idiom, supported by lyrical melodic writing and, above all, rich orchestration. These qualities make his music accessible to audiences and have contributed to its popular success. His concert works and his scores for film and television have received awards.

Baker's catalogue is extensive. It includes the ballet Washington Square, the soundtracks for The Grey Fox and Maggie, the incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony No. 1 'Highland' and the Summit Concerto for trumpet and orchestra, as well as numerous chamber works and songs. Several of his compositions have been recorded by the CBC label and by Summit Records.

In 1997 he was appointed a Member of the Order of British Columbia for his contribution to the province. His legacy lies in having built a bridge between accessible concert music and film scoring in Canada.