America’s Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker to Perform in Colleyville
Janene Nielsen
Colleyville—The Colleyville Texas Stake Relief Society Presidency is thrilled to announce that world renowned violinist Jenny Oaks Baker will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Relief Society Women’s Conference, Here Am I, Send Me, a spiritual evening of music and the spoken word for all women, ages 12 and up, on March 5, 2016, at the Colleyville Stake Center.
America’s Violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker, is a Grammy Nominated, Billboard No. 1 recording artist, and performer. Whether her music is experienced live or through one of her many recordings, it is impossible to escape the magic of her artistry.
Jenny began playing the violin at age four, and made her solo orchestral debut in 1983 when she was only eight years old. She received her Master of Music degree from the renowned Juilliard School in New York City and her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Jenny Oaks Baker has released twelve albums as a Shadow Mountain Artist, having sold nearly half a million copies since 1998. Her album “Wish Upon a Star: A Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney” earned a nomination at the 54th GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Jenny’s albums consistently chart on Billboard, with her 2010 album “Then Sings My Soul” hitting the #1 spot on the Top Classical Albums chart two weeks in a row. Her next project, “Noël: Carols of Christmas Past” was produced and arranged by Emmy award winning composer Kurt Bestor and features former “Celtic Woman” star Alex Sharpe. Her most recent CD, “Classic: The Rock Album” has also been met by critical acclaim and is yet another Billboard chart-topping album.
Jenny Oaks Baker’s performance career is equally impressive. She has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Strathmore Hall, the Library of Congress and as a guest soloist with the National Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, and the internationally acclaimed Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She has also been featured in television and radio broadcasts nationwide. Her “In Performance” BYUTV Special Silver Screen Serenade, features Jenny performing music from her album of the same name. Over the years Jenny has collaborated with such luminaries as Gladys Knight, Kurt Bestor, Alex Boye, Marvin Hamlisch, and the former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Jenny’s emotionally stirring music has been featured on the soundtracks of many films, including Helen Whitney’s 2007 PBS Documentary, “The Mormons”, TC Christensen’s films, “17 Miracles”and “The Cokeville Miracle” , and alongside music by “The Killers” in Mitch Davis’ new film, “Christmas Eve”. Additionally, Jenny will be making her acting debut as the violinist character, Mandy in “Christmas Eve”, a film starring Patrick Stewart to be released in Dec 2015.
Recently, Jenny teamed up with Director Danny Drysdale to create music videos to enable more people throughout the world to experience the thrill of her artistry. These videos, filmed throughout the world, are exclusively available on Jenny’s YouTube Channel.
With her extensive performing and recording careers in addition to her superlative education, Jenny is an esteemed expert and served as a judge for the 2007 Stradivarius International Violin Competition. In April 2008 Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. of Utah awarded her the Governor’s Mansion Artist Award for excellence in artistic expression.
For seven years, Jenny Oaks Baker performed as a first violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra before resigning in 2007 to devote more time to her young family. Jenny, her husband, and their four children reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.
