Meredith Elaine Baker at the Cadet Chapel Organ Console (6 March 2005, before her 3 pm Recital), United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. "The largest pipe organ in a worship space in the world."

MEREDITH ELAINE BAKER has been conductor of the Long Island Choral Society since 1979, a position she has held longer than any of her predecessors. Dedicated to Church Music, she has sung in choirs and studied piano since the age of three (1956), organ since 1964, and held church positions since 1966. She has studied a number of additional instruments and played in orchestras and bands throughout her school years. Flute, violin, and bassoon were her primary instruments. She has a passion for Renaissance music and performance on all members of the recorder family and has had additional opportunities to work with brass instruments. Those interested can ask her about her appearance on Martha Stewart's show playing euphonium!

Miss Baker holds a number of professional degrees; a BM and MA, both in organ performance from Queens College, CUNY, the Professional Studies Certificate in Church Music from Manhattan School of Music, and the Choirmaster and Fellow Certificates obtained through examination by the American Guild of Organists (AGO). She is Director of Education for Region II of the AGO. She is also a charter member of the Delta Alpha chapter of the music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda.

Miss Baker has been a member of the Adjunct and Artist Music Faculty of Nassau Community College, Garden City since 1978. She was elected a member of the Liturgical Music Commission of the Archdiocese of New York from 1993 through 2001 and again from 2004 through the present. She also serves on the organ sub-committee of the Liturgical Music Commission. She is frequently invited to play organ recitals in the Metropolitan area and to provide workshops on organ technique, service playing, choral warm-ups, and repertoire for various organizations, especially for the AGO.

Her Catholic Cadet Choir at West Point performed during the Prelude at the Central Park Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II, the prelude for the Yankee Stadium Mass of Pope Benedict XVI, and for numerous Masses celebrated by the late Archbishop Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop Cardinal Egan and for current Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York, and for Archbishop Edwin Cardinal O'Brien and current Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Ordinariate. They make annual visits to St. Patrick’s Cathedral singing at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week.

During her years conducting the Long Island Choral Society, Miss Baker instituted the Artist-in-Residence and Young Artist Competition programs, and developed the first generation of Young Voices. Under her direction the singers have been invited to participate in numerous performances at Carnegie Hall and other renowned venues. The Long Island Choral Society is an educational as well as performance-minded group, and hopes that the footprint we leave on Long Island's cultural scene will remain vibrant for years to come!

Meredith Elaine Baker
Director of Music
Most Holy Trinity Chapel West Point, New York
Conductor, Long Island Choral Society since 1979

http://www.dean.usma.edu/catholicchoir
http://www.usma.edu/Chaplain/mht/
http://www.lics.org

E-Mail: MBaker@lics.org