EMILY BAKER: NURTURING YOUNG VOICES IN WEST TEXAS
Emily Baker, director of Voices of the Permian Basin, is passionate about nurturing young musical talent and creating opportunities for children across West Texas. As the leader of the West Texas Symphony’s youth choir program, Emily has seen firsthand how music education can transform lives.
“I feel like so much of...the value we place in our children speaks so much to who we are as people,” Emily said. She emphasizes the program’s commitment to accessibility, noting that they keep costs low and don’t turn anyone away due to inability to pay.
Emily believes the choir experience offers invaluable life lessons beyond just musical skills. “One of the most valuable things that we teach in choir is teamwork and group work,” she explains. “There’s something to be said for singing in a group...when you’re having to blend and balance and match other people's tones.”
The program also builds confidence and public speaking skills. As Emily noted, “I feel like we performers have a huge advantage when it comes to things like that, because we're already comfortable in front of crowds of all different sizes.”
Under Emily’s leadership, the choir has grown significantly. What started as a small group of 28 kids has blossomed into a thriving program of 60-80 singers. Emily takes pride in providing unique opportunities, like performing at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. “Most people will never get to perform in an $89 million facility,” she points out.
Emily’s dedication stems from her own experiences and education in music. With a degree in music education and years of teaching experience, she understands the transformative power of music programs. She shares a touching story of a former student who, inspired by early exposure to symphony performances, went on to study at Juilliard.
“We don’t understand the kind of long-term impact that things like this can have,” Emily reflects. “We won’t know all of it, but I think there will be more stories...where children were impacted by going to these concerts and singing in these concerts, and that they grew up to become music lovers who promoted that with their own children.”
Through her work with Voices of the Permian Basin, Emily is not just teaching music – she’s shaping the cultural future of West Texas, one young voice at a time.
