Sonya Gabrielle Baker, soprano, noted for her performances of American music, has been heard in concert both nationally and internationally, including recent appearances in Newfoundland, Canada, Charleston, West Virginia, and New York City. In 2003, Dr. Baker made her Carnegie Hall debut with renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas singing music of Aaron Copland, and she appeared as soloist on the Yale Alumni Chorus tour to Moscow singing at the Kremlin. Highlights of Dr. Baker's operatic roles include Elisabetta in Verdi's Don Carlo, Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Monisha in Joplin's Treemonisha, and the title role in the U.S. premiere of Mascagni's Pinotta. Dr. Baker is currently a member of the voice faculty at Murray State University in Kentucky. Along with a Doctor of Music from Florida State University, she holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University and a Bachelor's of Arts in American Studies from Yale University. Her voice teachers have included Yvonne Ciannella, Rita Patanè, Lili Chookasian, and Virginia Zeani. Dr. Baker has also worked with well-known teachers, coaches and directors such as Frank Corsaro, Evelyn Lear, Jerome Hines, Douglas Fisher, Michael McConnell and Craig Rutenberg. Dr. Baker's lecture recital on Marian Anderson's historic 1939 Easter concert has been presented at several universities and conferences and is often performed in celebration of Black History Month. Her newest project, a lecture recital entitled "Creating the Best of all Possible Worlds" features songs by Ruth Schonthal and Libby Larsen. Dr. Baker has received numerous academic and vocal awards and is a frequent guest artist and teacher, having taught at Governor's School for the Arts programs in both Kentucky and Virginia. This recording was made possible in part by grants awarded from Murray State University and the Kentucky Foundation for Women.
Guest Artist,Vicki Berneking,is Professor of Music Emeritus at James Madison University in Virginia,and was formerly in charge of the accompanying program.She studied piano and coaching with Wesley True,Thomas Mastoianni, John Wustman and Dalton Baldwin.She has performed extensively as a collaborative pianist both in the United States an in Europe. Her performing partners have included Harold Robinson, Joseph Robinson, Pablo Elvira, Jean-Pierre Rampal and Michel De Bost.She has collaborated with Rostropovitch and the National Symphony in the premier of the concerto for double bass, Jack and the Beanstalk, by Jon Deak. She has recorded for Golden Crest and Roncorp labels, and has recent CD recordings with Steven Seward and Harold Robinson. Ms. Berneking currently resides in
Charleston, West Virginia and performs with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Jeannie Little received her degrees from Northwestern University and Florida State University. Her principal teachers include Jay Friedman, Frank Crisafulli, Charles Vernon, Arnold Jacobs, John Marcellus and William Cramer. Ms. Little has served as principal trombonist of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Chamber Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Elgin Symphony orchestra. In addition, she has performed with the Detroit, Honolulu, Alabama, and New Mexico Symphony Orchestras, and has toured and recorded with the Chicago Symphony under Leonard Bernstein. Ms. Little was a founding member of the highly acclaimed, award-winning trombone quartet, PRISMA, which toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and has been featured at International Trombone Workshops, the International Women's Brass Conference. As a clinician, Ms. Little is active presenting recitals and master classes throughout the country. She has also appeared as guest conductor and performer in the International Women's Trombone Choir at the International Trombone Workshops in 1992 and 1995. Having served as the trombone professor at James Madison University, the Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Hawaii, Ms. Little is currently a free-lance artist and elementary orchestra teacher in Los Angeles, California
Check out the artist's website:
http:///www.sonyabaker.com
Track List:
1. Song to the Dark Virgin
2. Feet O' Jesus
3. Night
4. Minstrel Man
5. Dream Variations
6. I, Too
7. Along with Me
8. They Might Not Need Me
9. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
10. Over the Fence
11. Wild Nights
12. Six Times Solitude
13. Six Times Solitude
14. Six Times Solitude
15. Six Times Solitude
16. Six Times Solitude
17. Six Times Solitude
18. To Be a Painter
19. Travels
20. Europe Again
21. Early Work
22. Degas
23. Maturity
Other Genres:
Guest Artist,Vicki Berneking,is Professor of Music Emeritus at James Madison University in Virginia,and was formerly in charge of the accompanying program.She studied piano and coaching with Wesley True,Thomas Mastoianni, John Wustman and Dalton Baldwin.She has performed extensively as a collaborative pianist both in the United States an in Europe. Her performing partners have included Harold Robinson, Joseph Robinson, Pablo Elvira, Jean-Pierre Rampal and Michel De Bost.She has collaborated with Rostropovitch and the National Symphony in the premier of the concerto for double bass, Jack and the Beanstalk, by Jon Deak. She has recorded for Golden Crest and Roncorp labels, and has recent CD recordings with Steven Seward and Harold Robinson. Ms. Berneking currently resides in
Charleston, West Virginia and performs with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Jeannie Little received her degrees from Northwestern University and Florida State University. Her principal teachers include Jay Friedman, Frank Crisafulli, Charles Vernon, Arnold Jacobs, John Marcellus and William Cramer. Ms. Little has served as principal trombonist of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Chamber Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Elgin Symphony orchestra. In addition, she has performed with the Detroit, Honolulu, Alabama, and New Mexico Symphony Orchestras, and has toured and recorded with the Chicago Symphony under Leonard Bernstein. Ms. Little was a founding member of the highly acclaimed, award-winning trombone quartet, PRISMA, which toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and has been featured at International Trombone Workshops, the International Women's Brass Conference. As a clinician, Ms. Little is active presenting recitals and master classes throughout the country. She has also appeared as guest conductor and performer in the International Women's Trombone Choir at the International Trombone Workshops in 1992 and 1995. Having served as the trombone professor at James Madison University, the Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Hawaii, Ms. Little is currently a free-lance artist and elementary orchestra teacher in Los Angeles, California
Check out the artist's website:
http:///www.sonyabaker.com
Track List:
1. Song to the Dark Virgin
2. Feet O' Jesus
3. Night
4. Minstrel Man
5. Dream Variations
6. I, Too
7. Along with Me
8. They Might Not Need Me
9. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
10. Over the Fence
11. Wild Nights
12. Six Times Solitude
13. Six Times Solitude
14. Six Times Solitude
15. Six Times Solitude
16. Six Times Solitude
17. Six Times Solitude
18. To Be a Painter
19. Travels
20. Europe Again
21. Early Work
22. Degas
23. Maturity
Other Genres: