Alicia Baker continues to expand her musical horizons. Her possibilities are unlimited! She is a classically trained accordionist, pianist, and singer from Portland, OR. She has performed on various stages, from the operatic stage to the headlining spot at accordion festivals. Alicia has explored her many avenues of musical ability in both performance and educational venues.
Alicia received 3 music degrees from Oregon State University, including piano performance, vocal performance, and choral education. Alicia’s repertoire spans a wide variety of musical genres amongst her instruments, including opera, folk songs, jazz standards, French musettes, polkas, contemporary, classical, romantic, techno and popular hits throughout the decades.
Alicia has competed and won multiple International accordion competitions, in addition to headlining major accordion festivals all around North America. These include the American Accordionists’ Association, The Vegas International Accordion Festival, the Cotati Accordion Festival, the Big Squeeze, the Accordionists and Teachers Guild International Festival, KIOTAC, Leavenworth Old-Time Accordion Festival, and the NAMM show. She even had the honor of performing an accordion concerto with the Corvallis Symphony in 2011.
Alicia has also sung the leading role in multiple operas, including Queen of the Night from Mozart’s The Magic Flute with OSU opera.
In 2009 Alicia became connected with Roland Corporation, the maker of a fully digital accordion, when she entered the Roland US V-Accordion competition. Her relationship with Roland continued to blossom, leading to her full-time work with the company today where she is a product specialist, demoing pianos and accordions around the country. This relationship helps Alicia show the accordion in a whole new light by utilizing the amazing technology.
Alicia has created a unique show for her audiences by combining her skills on accordion with her accomplished voice. Known for operatic arias accompanied by herself, and modern styles like techno, Alicia is passionate about reinventing the face of accordion in today’s world.
I asked Alicia to share her thoughts on music and specifically, the accordion. Her words are inspiring to all.: “Accordion has been such a wonderful influence on my musical development. Although I also sing and play piano, accordion will always have a very special place in my musical world. I star playing old-time and classical music at a very young age; however, my musical style has morphed and changed as I’ve grown as a musician – and the accordion has been a big part of that. I’ve been cultivating this intense passion for french/jazz music, which has become the core of music I play when I gig on accordion.
When I was younger, music used to be something I practiced because my parents were musicians, I seemed to be naturally gifted, and it sounded nice to me. Thankfully, my musical abilities turned into a true love for music, which has fueled a desire to have a career in music. I just couldn’t live without my accordion, and those wonderful french musettes!”
Future Performances include:
June 10 – Vie de Boheme
• 8:00 pm
• LIVE CD Recording!! I’ll be recording a French café themed CD, Live with band!
• Alicia on accordion, Mike Horsfall on vibes and piano, Kevin Deitz on Bass, and Todd Strait on Drums
• http://www.viedebohemepdx.com
June 17 – Arrivederci Wine Bar at 7:00 pm with Alicia on accordion, Mike Horsfall on vibes and piano, Kevin Deitz on Bass, and Mike Snyder on Drums
17023 SE McLoughlin Blvd Milwaukie, OR 97267
June 19 – Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers Association Grand Concert at 7:00 pm, West Salem High School Auditorium / 1776 Titan Drive NW, Choral Concert, with accordion concert at intermission. Tickets: $10.00
June 20 – Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration
• 1:30 pm – Roland Accordion Workshop at The Grange
• 7:00 pm – Accordion Concert with Michael Bridge
• http://www.accordioncelebration.org
June 22 – Alicia Baker and Michael Bridge in Concert at 7:00 pm / Portland, OR, Specific Location – TBA
Sept.19 and 20 (time TBA) Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
To order her CD’s and for further information:
Bakerajo@gmail.com
