Eric Baker, the longtime chair of visual and performing arts at Odessa College has moved to University of Texas Permian Basin.
Baker is taking on the newly created role of director of community engagement in music and visual arts.
Jacqui Gore, also formerly of OC, move to UTPB as vice president of Community Engagement and Partnerships.
One of the pillars of UTPB’s mission and vision is community impact, Baker said. The university is working hard and is putting plans into place over the next several years to ensure that the local area is being positively benefited by the programs at UTPB.
“My role will be to run with that torch, so to speak, in the artistic realm,” Baker said.
He added that he will be connecting people off campus with what they are doing on campus and then connecting students to go into the community to make a positive impact — bridging the gap that may exist between community members and the university’s music and arts programs.
Even students that attend school on the main campus may not realize that there is a band, choir, orchestra, mariachi and jazz band at the university’s music department at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
“Now that’s changing,” Baker said. “We’ve got a lot more students coming in because we have this beautiful engineering building here. There are renovations going on at the CEED (Building) as well.”
CEED also houses the Small Business Development Center, which also brings in community members, business men and women, and people who are trying to nurture some new ideas for commerce.
“This area, I think, is going to become a little bit more well known, but we still have work to do to make a community impact,” Baker said.
He added that recruiting will be a big part of his job — letting students know about the opportunities available in music and the arts.
Having spent so many years at Odessa College, Baker said it was difficult to leave. The college was like family to him.
“OC has been wonderful; just a fantastic opportunity. I’m excited to continue to work with OC in this new role; the idea that we will make sure that our community college partners would know about opportunities that they have to work together. I love (OC President) Dr. (Gregory) Williams. The staff, faculty and students at OC have been like family to me. It was difficult to leave; it was hard. But I have been seeing the growth here at UTPB, both as an institution and as a music and arts program.”
“When I noticed that they were looking for someone who could leverage community engagement with music, I kind of thought this is a perfect opportunity for me. I’ve been very blessed out here in West Texas to be a part of so many community-facing projects. I play with the West Texas Symphony. I’m part of the Jazz Society. I’ve gotten to do so many things with my family and … the Permian Playhouse and things all over this area. I’ve been fortunate to make those community connections and I’m excited to use those connections to further the arts for the greater community,” Baker said.
For him it was a chance to do what he loved on a bigger scale so he can reach more people.
“It was a bittersweet decision, for sure, but I’m excited because I think we’re going to be able to do a lot of really wonderful things here,” Baker said.
He said they could possibly find new and innovative ways to “make anywhere our concert hall.”
The band program is looking for different venues around the community to engage audiences that may not be able to make it to the Wagner Noël.
“We have a huge area that we all serve collectively in the education world. Odessa College, I think, has the biggest geographical region of any community college in Texas, which means UTPB as well out here in this area. We’re serving people miles and miles away. Maybe not everyone can make it out to the Wagner because they don’t want to drive an hour and a half one way to see a one-hour concert. So maybe we do something out there for them,” Baker said.
“Those are the kinds of conversations that we’re having as we develop. I would love to hear from the community. What is your perception of UTPB, and the music program and the art program, and how can we meet your needs? What is it that we can do to serve you and the students of this area?”
Baker can be reached at [email protected]
If you have ideas, or want to have a voice as a community member, he said, reach out and “let’s see what we can do” because audience engagement and community engagement is crucial.
“We’re a big West Texas family out here. The more we can foster relationships and the more it can feel like a small town, the more we can do together,” Baker said.
Baker grew up in Fort Worth and met his wife, Emily, as a music education student at University of Texas Arlington.
After graduating, they spent two years in Phoenix.
He earned a bachelor’s of music in education from UT Arlington and a master of music in trumpet performance from Arizona State University.
“What brought us back to West Texas was playing in the West Texas Symphony. A position had opened up in the orchestra for principal trumpet, so I auditioned for that and we moved here in 2006 and spent several years just teaching some adjunct at OC and UTPB actually, and then in 2009, took over the full-time job at OC,” Baker said.
He was curious about the opening at UTPB and wondered what the plan was. Baker made some inquiries and realized the university from the top down was making an effort to strengthen and build the fine arts.
“I thought … if you’re getting that level of support, this is going to be a good place to get on board over the next five to 10 years. My family loves West Texas, and frankly, in academia, it is often difficult to advance in your career without having to uproot your family and move to another state, or another institution somewhere far away. This is a luxury that many people don’t get — the opportunity to stay in your hometown, maintain all the same friendships that you have, and still get to broaden the scope of your career … It’s a blessing. It’s a luxury that not everyone has, so I jumped at the opportunity … I’m sad to leave OC; I love OC and will continue to support them in their work and in the ways that I can,” Baker said.
Initially, he said, there will be a lot of data collecting, research and talking to the faculty, staff and students to determine their needs, how he can help and rolling that into the grander needs and projects that the university has in mind.
Baker said he’ll still get to do a bit of music teaching. He’ll be the instructor for an online class in jazz history.
“I really enjoy that and I think that’s important. Thankfully, all of the faculty and staff here still have a little bit of a connection with the students and that’s so important. You don’t want to lose that link to the number one community that we’re trying to serve,” he added.
His wife, Emily, is in charge of the children’s choir with the West Texas Symphony called Voices of the Permian Basin.
Baker still performs with the Lone Star Brass.
The Bakers have three daughters.
“They’re all little budding musicians. Last year, the Baker family got to sing a couple of songs with the West Texas Symphony as featured artists on the Christmas Concert. We’ll get to do that again this year,” Baker said.
UTPB President Sandra Woodley said Baker already loves the community and loves to serve it.
“Eric Baker’s musical talent is obvious and impressive, but what really sets him apart is his passion for serving and connecting with the community. Talent and passion; that is a winning combination. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Falcon family,” Woodley said.
