2018/2019 Concerto Competition Winner

Born in Halifax Nova Scotia, Dorian Leigh Baker completed his Undergraduate Degree in Music from Mount Allison University, while simultaneously studying Clarinet Performance at The Boston Conservatory. While at the Boston Conservatory in 2012, Dorian focused on chamber and orchestral performance, where he held principal positions with the Boston Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble. In Boston, Dorian also formed a clarinet trio and quintet, which allowed him to delve into the classical chamber music repertory. Through his chamber music ensembles, Dorian performed all of Mozart’s masterworks for the clarinet including the Clarinet Concerto K.622, Trio K. 498 and Quintet K. 581. In addition to his intensive musical training at the Boston Conservatory, his time in Boston also took him to center stage at some of New England’s best performance venues, including Jordan Hall at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

During his undergraduate studies at Mount Allison University, Dorian held principal positions in the Mount Allison University Chamber Orchestra, and the Mount Allison University Wind Ensemble. Having studied all of Mozart’s masterworks during his time in Boston, Dorian spent his time at Mount Allison University to focus on music of the Romantic era – where he became infatuated with the work of Brahms, performing all of his masterworks for clarinet, including both Sonatas Op. 120, the Trio Op. 114, and the autumnal Quintet Op. 115. In addition to his studious endeavors at Mount Allison, Dorian spent his summers in Orford, Quebec, and in Europe where he participated in the Wind Octet program at the Orford Arts Centre, and studied in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen with some of the world’s most sought after clarinetists, including Lee Morgan and Martin Spangenberg.

Upon completion of his undergraduate studies in 2014, Dorian moved to Toronto where he earned a Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Toronto. While at UofT, Dorian maintained a position as principal clarinet with the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Toronto Wind Ensemble. He was also an active chamber musician, performing in various ensembles including a Clarinet Trio and Quintet, and a Wind Quintet and Octet. While at the University of Toronto, Dorian participated in masterclasses with world-renowned artists such as Anthony McGill of the New York Philharmonic, and Walter Seyfarth of the Berlin Philharmonic. Dorian has also worked as a recording artist and has recorded for Eighth Note Publications, and for the Screen Composers Guild of Canada at CBC studios in Toronto. While in Toronto, Dorian spent his summers in Northern Ontario teaching music at the National Music Camp of Canada, where he honed his skills as a music educator – skills that have transferred well into his current position teaching with Long&McQuade.

Dorian will be performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 with the Chebucto Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, November 22nd, 2018.