Performance and Pedagogy
Jackie Baker began studying the violin at age 5 under the tutelage of Elizabeth (Van Gelderen) Zempel. At the age of 9, she fell in love with the rich tone of the viola and began viola lessons with Anna Grace (Van Gelderen) Overmiller and then Jamie Hofman. Jackie has passionately pursued her music training and has won competitions, scholarships, and studying opportunities with teachers, chamber musicians, performers, and conductors across the country.
Jackie has had the privilege of attending the Summer String Academy at Indiana University and studying under renowned teachers Mimi Zweig, Jim Przyzgocki, and the Penderecki String Quartet. In 2010, she won honorable mention in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition and performed as principal violist with the orchestra; in the same year, she earned the position of principal violist of the Falls Baptist Chamber Strings and the Baptist College of Ministry Symphony Orchestra and had the privilege of performing the solo string quartet of Elgar’s “Introduction and Allegro” at the Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra festival in Chicago, Illinois. In 2013, she received the Silverman/Anello Scholarship for her recorded performance of Ernest Bloch’s “Suite 1919.”
Throughout her years in the Falls Baptist Music School, Jackie had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with and for artists such as Erin Alderage, Roeland Jagers, Sarah Kapustin, Wyatt Sutherland, and Matthew Michelic. In 2015, Jackie graduated with a BA in viola performance and pedagogy. Since her college graduation, Jackie has received many opportunities to perform as a soloist and chamber musician in the community and across the US and Canada.
In addition to her role as a performer and chamber musician, Jackie actively teaches both violin and viola in the community. In 2011, she started a string program on the east side of Milwaukee and also began teaching private lessons at Brass Bell Music Store and Falls Baptist Music School. In 2012, she accepted the position of assistant conductor of the Baroque Strings, a middle school string ensemble. That same year, her student orchestra was accepted at the Midwest Clinic as a demonstration ensemble. In 2017, Jackie accepted a full-time position at Baptist College of Ministry and the Falls Baptist Music School as a violin and viola instructor, chamber music coach, and administrative music secretary.
Jackie also enjoys her position as an English and literature teacher at Falls Baptist Academy and Baptist College of Ministry. When she’s not practicing or performing, she’s studying for classes or spending time with her high school students, teaching or participating in extra-curricular events. Her hobbies include traveling, writing, and music: she enjoys experiencing new cultures, recording her experiences, and sharing her love of music with those around her in both sacred and secular settings. Jackie is passionate about training the leaders of the next generation to become effective communicators in both language and music.
