Philip E. Baker: An Organist's Life

Phil Baker and Peter Bouteneff, recording their conversation at The Buckingham, in Houston, TX, on December 19, 2025

Philip Baker was born in Burkburnett, Texas on November 27, 1934.  He began his musical studies with his mother at age 4 and began playing the organ for church at age thirteen.  He received at BA with a major in organ, and minors in geology and French from Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas, a MM in choral conducting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and has done further graduate study at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas and Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  His major organ instructors have been Nita Akin, David Lumsden and Leonard Raver.  His choral conducting study has been with Lloyd Pfautsch and Robert Fountain. Lt. Baker received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army at graduation and served two years of active duty at Ft. Knox, Ft. Holabird, Ft. Hood and Ft Carson. He served as a photo interpreter for the G-2 section in Military Intelligence.  Philip Baker then began serving in the Music Ministry of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas from 1959 until 1993. During that time the Ministry of Music and the Other Arts grew exponentially, including the addition of two significant pipe organs and a 48 bell carillon, as well as directing over 600 choristers in their weekly rehearsals and services. Mr. Baker served on the Organ Faculty at SMU from 1960 until 1963, and has begun the organ studies of several young people who have advanced to achieve national, even international recognition.  He is Past President of the Fellow of United Methoists in Worship, Music and Other Arts, Past Director of the National Open Competition in Organ Playing, sponsored by the American Guild of Organists. 

At the concert grand piano Phil and Tissa donated to the Buckingham, the day after our recorded conversation.

He has served on the Section on Worship, Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, as well as on the Board of the Choristers Guild.  He is author and composer of numerous published works, and has written several mass settings and choral works for the Schola of Saint Mary Cathedral in Austin. His late wife, Tissa, was also a musician. They have four children, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Philip Baker served as organist at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin from 1997 until 2013. Since 1006 he has presented recital in several prestigious venues, among them Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, The Berlin Dome and Westminster Abbey in London.  He has failed four times at retirement, during which he is still composing music. Additionally he maintains an active avocation as a wood worker, crafting decorative boxes and chests, made of  exotic hardwoods from around the world. These woodworking products are given to benevolent causes, mainly to institutions for special education, as well as gifts to friends. Mr. Baker also writes a monthly column for the Crowne News at The Buckingham. 

The concert grand piano that he and Tissa donated to the Buckingham, and which you can hear during our conversation, once belonged to the Dallas Symphony.