Jenny Oaks Baker
America’s Violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker, is a Grammy Nominated, Billboard No. 1 recording artist, and performer. Whether her music is experienced live or through one of her many recordings or music videos, it is impossible to escape the magic of her artistry.
Jenny began playing the violin at age four and made her solo orchestral debut in 1983 when she was only eight years old. She received her Master of Music Degree from the renowned Juilliard School in New York City and her bachelor’s degree in violin performance from The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Jenny has released fifteen albums as a Shadow Mountain Artist, having sold nearly a million copies since 1998. Her album Wish Upon a Star: A Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney earned a nomination at the 54th GRAMMY Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Her albums consistently chart on Billboard, with her 2010 album Then Sings My Soul hitting the #1 spot on the Top Classical Albums chart two weeks in a row. Her next project, Noël: Carols of Christmas Past was produced and arranged by Emmy award winning composer Kurt Bestor and features former “Celtic Woman” star Alex Sharpe. Her next CD, Classic: The Rock Album has also been met by critical acclaim and is yet another Billboard chart-topping album. Jenny’s last album, Awakening, an album of soul-filling inspirational hymns and epic classics spent 20 weeks on the National Billboard Charts, hitting No. 4 on the Classical Chart. Her newest album, The Spirit of God: Classic Hymns & Spirituals was released on Friday, 30 March 2018, and promises to be another chart-topping album.
Jenny Oaks Baker’s performance career is equally impressive. She has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Strathmore Hall, the Library of Congress and as a guest soloist with the National Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, and the internationally acclaimed Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She has also been featured in television and radio broadcasts nationwide. Over the years Jenny has collaborated with such luminaries as Gladys Knight, Kurt Bestor, Marvin Hamlisch, and the former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
Jenny’s emotionally stirring music has been featured on the soundtracks of many films, including Helen Whitney’s PBS Documentary, “The Mormons“, TC Christensen’s hit films, “17 Miracles“, The Cokeville Miracle, and Love Kennedy, and alongside music by The Killers in Mitch Davis’ film, Christmas Eve. Additionally, Jenny starred as the violinist character, Mandy in Christmas Eve, a film starring James Roday, Jon Heder, and Patrick Stewart.
The Jenny Oaks Baker YouTube Channel features Jenny’s inspiring and entertaining music videos and enables more people throughout the world to experience the thrill of her music and performances. These videos have been enjoyed by over 5 million viewers and are partially made possible through Jenny’s Patreon.
With her extensive performing and recording careers, in addition to her superlative education, Jenny is an esteemed expert and has served as a judge for The Stradivarius International Violin Competition. She is also the recipient of the Utah Governor’s Mansion Artist Award for Excellence in Artistic Expression. For seven years, Jenny Oaks Baker performed as a first violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra before resigning in 2007 to devote more time to her young family.
Jenny Oaks Baker, her husband, Matthew, and their four musical children reside in Salt Lake City, Utah. Laura is 16 and plays the violin and percussion. Hannah is 14, plays the piano and studies with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox. Sarah is 13, plays the cello and studies with Dr. Alison Wells. Matthew is 11 and plays the classical and electric guitar. He studies classical guitar with Douglas Rogers and electric guitar with Larry Green. Jenny and her children perform together throughout the world as Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four.
Jenny Oaks Baker is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her father is Dallin H. Oaks who was sustained as the First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a solemn assembly in the Saturday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference, on 31 March 2018. Her mother, June Oaks Baker, passed away at the age of 65 on Tuesday, 21 July 1998, after battling cancer for more than a year. Two years later, her father married Kristen McMain in the Salt Lake Temple.
To learn more about Jenny Oaks Baker, please visit her official website.
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Jenny Oaks Baker and Condoleezza Rice – Amazing Grace
In a video released by FamilyShare.com on Thursday, 2 July 2015, world-renown violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and former United States Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice, combine their talents in a beautiful rendition of the timeless hymn "Amazing Grace." The song was...