Andy Baker joined the BSO family in 1978 as a member of Bournemouth Sinfonietta. He went on to bring music into the lives of thousands more people beyond the stage in his work as a Music Animateur, and later Community Musician.
Andy had a passion for a broad range of music. He was a bass player on London’s pub rock circuit of the 1970s, ahead of formal study at the Royal Academy of Music. As a member of the BBC’s Northern Ireland Orchestra (now Ulster Orchestra), he would play both Double Bass and electric bass for the Orchestra’s recording sessions. Over the years, he collaborated with artists from Marianne Faithfull, Gloria Hunniford, Jimmy Webb and Westlife to jazz greats John Surman and Abdullah Ibrahim.
He joined Bournemouth Sinfonietta in 1978 as Co-principal Double Bass, but it was when the Bournemouth Orchestras’ Education Department was established in the late 1980s that Andy’s flair as a music workshop leader became apparent, so much so that for some six weeks each year, he concentrated solely on outreach work.
Fast forward a decade by which time Andy decided to step down from his playing post with the Sinfonietta to become in 1997 the full time Music Animateur of the Company. Later in 2005, in light of his exceptional work, he was appointed Community Musician, a position he retained until his retirement.
Andrew Burn, the Orchestra’s former Head of Projects, said: “Andy was one of a handful of cutting-edge player pioneers, who, in the final two decades of the last century, established the role of music animateurs/community musicians as integral and vital components of UK symphony orchestras. Blessed with innate musicianship, communication skills par excellence, and a warm-hearted personality, he inspired those with whom he worked across the whole of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s huge patch of engagement in the south west of England.
“I recall him mesmerising hundreds of school pupils at the Eden Project in Cornwall; spurring on improvisation skills of teenage jazzers in Basingstoke; patiently coaxing those living with dementia in Wiltshire; bringing joy to the children’s wards of Exeter hospital; and providing purpose to prisoners at HM The Verne, Portland with a rock musical version of Hamlet. And that’s just five examples, and how can’t I mention too, the collaboration with dancers from south India at Southampton’s Mela festival; his residencies in schools, secondary and primary, in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset; as well as his work with Romanian orphans, and exchanges with primary schools in Portsmouth and Caen. A true original, he was also the loyalist of colleagues and true friend.”
Vicky Berry, BSO Second Violin, said: “Andy was a total mentor to me as well as a good friend – there wasn’t anyone quite like him when it came to education, as well as being a fantastic musician. I count myself unbelievably lucky to have been able to work so closely with him for almost 20 years as part of BSO Resonate Strings and other projects. From our residencies in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset to some fantastic trips to France, Andy always made everything he did look effortless, but there was so much thought and attention to detail put into the work he did – all with the biggest heart and superb sense of humour. He also had an incredible knack of finding the nearest kettle and making us all a cuppa before we started anything! He will be sorely missed by so many in the music community – he was loved wherever he went.”
The BSO’s Chief Executive, Dougie Scarfe OBE, said: “These days, when working in communities is a core part of many orchestras’ missions, it is easy to forget that it has not always been the case. Andy was one a small handful of community musicians working for any orchestra in the UK and, as such, was an undoubted pioneer. Andy’s passion, care, and enthusiasm was infectious, and his presence was always inspiring.”
Andy spoke to Dorset Life, in 2015, explaining: “I love this job because one day I’m playing in one of the world’s finest orchestras, the next I’m working in a recording session, then I’m with a bunch of three-year-old pre-schoolers, followed by a session at Alderney Hospital or with primary pupils at Heathlands School in West Howe. Then I could be playing country and western. The breadth of music I get to play is astonishing and that’s something I am incredibly joyous about.”
To read the full interview, visit Dorset Life.