LIBERTY-While other high schoolers will be spending their summer lifeguarding or mowing lawns, Liberty High School Junior Brett Baker will be touring the great performance halls of Europe. Baker has been selected to perform with a national performing organization known as The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus.
The son of Rick and Lisa Baker, Baker plays trumpet in the LHS Symphonic and Marching Bands and the Henry H. Stambaugh Youth Concert Band. He is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Brett is also a member of the 2009 Class of Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley.
He has recently performed as a member of the Ohio University Honors Band, the Ohio Band Directors Honors Band and the Ohio Music Education Association Honors Band. Brett recently received a superior rating of "1" in the OMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition.
He will join other select student musicians chosen from applicants representing nearly every state when the Sound of America begins its 2009 European Concert Tour next July. Selection into the Sound of America membership is an honor as all applicants are carefully screened and chosen only after a rigid character and musical evaluation.
The student performers will travel from JFK Airport in New York to Frankfurt, Germany. They will present 10 performances in some of Europe's finest concert halls and major cathedrals during the 24-day concert tour of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Luxembourg.
The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus, celebrating its 33rd year in 2009, is recognized as one of the finest European concert tour programs. Students are responsible for all costs involved with the trip. Frequently, however, local business and civic clubs will offer financial sponsorship to the student representing their community. Baker is open to accepting such donations and will be holding fundraisers to raise funds as well.
The Sound of America Inc. is registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation.