Hayden Baker

Hayden Baker, a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, is thrilled for his sixth season with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.  

Baker fell in love with music at the age of five when he began playing the violin during a school sponsored strings program. He currently studies with Joo Kim and is incredibly thankful for her guidance and support.  

For the past three years, Baker has studied chamber music with the Preparatory Program at Webster University Community Music School. In 2023, Baker was selected as a Rader Young Artist through the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis. In 2025, Baker competed as a finalist in the St. Paul String Quartet Competition as a member of the Lyra Quartet. This year, Baker will continue studying chamber music with the Lyra Quartet through the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis’ Chamber Academy. 

In 2024, Baker made his solo debut as a winner in the Belleville Philharmonic’s concerto competition. He has also won prizes in the Rising Talents Youth Concerto Competition, soloing with the Town & Country Symphony Orchestra, and the 2024 Odyssey Pre-Collegiate Concerto Competition, performing as a soloist in the Odyssey Chamber Music Series.  

In previous summers, Baker has studied at various music festivals, including the Arianna Chamber Music Festival, Madeline Island Chamber Music for Strings, Aria International Summer Academy, and Center Stage Strings. Next year, he hopes to continue his violin studies at a music conservatory.  

Baker would like to express gratitude to those who have supported him throughout the years, including previous teachers Julia Sakharova and Mariana Wood, mentors such as Vera Parkin, Davin Rubicz, Laura Holzen, and the Arianna String Quartet. He would also like to thank his incredibly supportive family and friends, including the Bay, Mosby, and Murphy families, for their continued support of his studies. When not playing his instrument, Baker likes listening to all genres of music, spending time with his two cats, and thrifting with his older sister and friends.