Brett E. Baker is in his fifth year as the Director of Bands at Cleveland Heights High School. He grew up in New Castle, PA, where he attended Neshannock High School. After graduation, Baker pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Mount Union College, located in Alliance, OH. While completing his degree, Baker had the opportunity to student teach with Dr. Terren Frenz and the Marlington High School Bands, a nationally recognized program which has received countless awards at the local, state, regional and national level for their marching, concert and jazz bands. After receiving his B.M.E., Baker continued to work as a music and drill staff instructor with the Marlington Bands for two years, during which time the bands received the Heart of St. Petersburg Award and runner up at the Bands of America Grand National Marching Band Finals in class A. During these two years, he also served as the Assistant Conductor of the Ohio Lions All State Honors Band touring Ohio and Arizona.

From 1996 to 1999, Baker worked as the Instrumental Music Director of the East Holmes Local School District in Holmes County, OH, teaching all of the bands in grades 5-12. As the only director in the district, he was responsible for all aspects of the Instrumental Music Department which included 6 elementary school bands, middle school band, high school band, jazz band and pep band.

In 1999, Mr. Baker was offered and accepted the Graduate Assistantship in Saxophone at the University of Akron, where he received a Masters Degree in Music Education in the Spring of 2001.

In addition to his teaching endeavors, Baker also spends time as the founder and co-leader of the Time Check Big Band, a regular member of various regional bands, and as a freelance performer specializing in saxophone, clarinet and flute.

Baker’s professional affiliations include membership in the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the North American Saxophone Alliance(NASA), and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).

His teaching responsibilities at Heights High include Music Director of Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Combos. He lives in Cleveland Heights with his wife Tanis.