Josh Baker joined The Florida Orchestra as the principal bassoonist in December 2018. Previously, Josh was the principal bassoonist of the Charleston Symphony (SC) from 2015-2018. In addition to TFO, Josh has substituted with many notable ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
Highlights of solo appearances include opening the 2020-21 TFO season with Astor Piazzolla’s Serie del Angel, the Weber Bassoon Concerto in F major with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Dutilleux’s Sarabande et Cortege, and Piazzolla’s Café 1930 from Histoire du Tango at the Kennedy Center, and the Mozart Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major K. 191 as the winner of the New England Conservatory Concerto Competition.
A native of Boise, Idaho, Josh has participated in several summer music festivals including the Tanglewood Music Center, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Music Academy of the West, Pacific Music Festival, and the Sarasota Music Festival. From 2017 to 2019, he held the principal bassoon position at the Charlottesville Opera. Currently, he holds the assistant principal bassoon position with the Colorado Music Festival.
In 2014, he received his bachelor of music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, studying with Richard Ranti and Richard Svoboda. He then attended Rice University for a year under the tutelage of Benjamin Kamins. Besides performing, Josh loves teaching, cooking spicy foods, running and playing the violin.
