This month, our Springboard SPOTLIGHT shines on Composer/Pianist, Luke Christopher Baron, one of our 2023 Springboard Grant Winners.
Luke Christopher Baron, Composer/Pianist
At what age did you begin performing and what inspired you to do so?
I started performing when I was 6 and composing when I was 13. I have many musical family members and it was always expected that I would learn an instrument. I fell in love with it under their guidance and support and I’ve never looked back.
What was the most exciting thing that’s happened to you as you’ve pursued the performing arts?
I think it’s a toss up between getting into Juilliard and winning the Sound Symphony concerto competition. I can’t choose between them because they were both dreams come true. I’ve always wanted to go to Juilliard, and I’ve always wanted to play with a live orchestra. They were both moments I’ll never forget.
What are some stumbling blocks you’ve encountered along the way?
I have been lucky not to have stumbling blocks!
Dream big … If you can envision achieving great success in the performing arts, describe what that would that look like?
I think that success in performing arts can look many different ways for me. My dream is simply to live in the arts and make a living doing what I love. I would love Carnegie premiers and to teach at a top NY institution but as long as I’m living in the world I’ll know I’ll be happy.
What’s your favorite genre of music and why?
Naturally being a classical composer the modern composition world is probably my favorite. However, my compositions take inspiration from all sorts of music and I love pretty much any music I hear.
Have you ever met a really famous performing artist and if so, who was it and what was your interaction?
A year or so ago I had an interaction with David Robertson that I will never forget. I was having dinner with him and my best friend who happens to be his son, and I was expressing my dislike for a certain composer’s music. He sat and listened to me explain what I disliked about it and when I finished he said something I’ll never forget. He told me that whenever there was music he didn’t like, he didn’t feel annoyed but remorseful. Naturalt, there are people who like it, and he felt remorse that he couldn’t enjoy it as they did because he didn’t understand why it was good. It really stuck with me and I try to keep it in mind whenever I come across music I don’t instantly like. As it happens that same composer who I disliked is now one of my favorites.
Describe what you think would be the most useful or beneficial thing to you, if given the opportunity to mentored by a successful artist?
I think anyone who is a brilliant orchestrator would be enormously benificial. I want to improve the colors I can get out of the orchestra and I would love to work with someone who knows the orchestra inside and out!
As a performing artist, what stands in the way of fulfilling your dreams?
Honestly, I feel that the only person who can stop me from achieving my goals is myself. As long as I believe in myself and continue to work, none of my dreams are unobtainable.
If you could have lunch with an A-list performing artist, who would that be?
I would love to have lunch with Igor Levit. He’s one of the most unique pianists I’ve ever seen and I’d love to pick his brain and get to know him.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
I make the correct connections, write a wonderful piece and achieve enough success in my field to have Carnegie premiers.
Favorite Musician: Manny Ax
Favorite Musical Instrument: Piano
Favorite Actor: Pedro Pascal
Favorite Actress: Tilda Swinton
Favorite Comedian: Jim Gaffigan
Favorite Dancer: MJ
Favorite Movie: How to Train Your Dragon
Favorite Show: The Boys
If you couldn’t be a performing artist, what would you like to do?
I’d probably be a history or English teacher. Teaching is definitely in my future and if I couldn’t teach music I might as well teach something else!
Biography
Luke Christopher Baron, age 18, is a composer and pianist who recently completed his work at the Juilliard Pre-college for composition. There he studied with Dr. Manuel Sosa and attended the Advanced Seminar for Musical Analysis. He will enter Juilliard as a Freshman this fall. He also participates in the NY Youth Symphony Composition program through which he has had works read by the DeCoda and the Grammy-award-winning New York Youth Symphony orchestras. He has performed with the NYYS Traumerei Clarinet quintet and organist Jae Lee. In 2024, Luke was awarded “From The Top” Finalist” honors and placed as a finalist for the Ruth Crawford Seager prize. He attended the Young Artist Program for Composition at Boston University Tanglewood Institute in the summer of 2023. A winner of the 2022 Sound Symphony Concerto Competition, he made his solo debut playing the Mozart Concerto No. 13, for which wrote and performed original cadenzas. An avid collaborative pianist, Luke spent the past two summers at Kinhaven Music School where he performed works spanning Quantz to Hindemith and debuted two original chamber works. In April of 2023, he was announced as a Springboard Grant Winner by the Bruce Montgomery Foundation for the Arts. This summer he’ll be touring with the Paul Green Rock Academy and Band from Utopia (containing original members of the Frank Zappa band). He also participated in the Sunset Chamberfest in early June and will be attending Juilliard in the Fall of 2024, majoring in Composition.
