Composers
Paul Baker:
Paul is the founder/owner/composer/arranger/editor/chief-cook-and-bottle-washer at Baker's Jazz And More. He has been a published jazz composer for over 40 years with more than 100 big band charts to his credit, written for groups of all levels. Paul earned a Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree from North Texas State university and an Advanced Studies Certificate in Film/TV Music Composition from the University of Southern California. His music can be heard throughout this website, and in band halls and concert halls across the US, Canada, and around the world, Paul has also composed for computer games and arranged for marching bands.
Ric Flauding:
Ric is an award-winning arranger, composer, songwriter, and classically trained guitarist whose music has been recorded by the London Symphony, Nashville Recording Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony and many others. His commissions include arrangements for guitar and orchestra, jazz ensembles, big band, contemporary jazz instrumentals, as well as choral and symphony productions. He has written, arranged, and recorded in many styles, including jazz and classical, and conducts professional and amateur jazz ensembles.
"Consistently enjoyable work sparkles with Flauding’s beautiful arrangements" - BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.
Ric is an award-winning arranger, composer, songwriter, and classically trained guitarist whose music has been recorded by the London Symphony, Nashville Recording Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony and many others. His commissions include arrangements for guitar and orchestra, jazz ensembles, big band, contemporary jazz instrumentals, as well as choral and symphony productions. He has written, arranged, and recorded in many styles, including jazz and classical, and conducts professional and amateur jazz ensembles.
"Consistently enjoyable work sparkles with Flauding’s beautiful arrangements" - BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.
Rick Lawn:
Richard (Rick) Lawn is professor emeritus and former Dean of the College of Performing Arts at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Previously he served as Director of Jazz Studies, Chair of the Department of Music, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. The National Endowment of the Arts has supported his work as a composer, and he has published over 60 compositions. His writing can be heard on his Unknown Soldiers CD (Sea Breeze Records) and Power of Ten which has received national airplay. Rick has also written four textbooks which have become staples among jazz educators and students including the most recent Sher Music release Jazz Scores and Analysis.
Richard (Rick) Lawn is professor emeritus and former Dean of the College of Performing Arts at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Previously he served as Director of Jazz Studies, Chair of the Department of Music, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. The National Endowment of the Arts has supported his work as a composer, and he has published over 60 compositions. His writing can be heard on his Unknown Soldiers CD (Sea Breeze Records) and Power of Ten which has received national airplay. Rick has also written four textbooks which have become staples among jazz educators and students including the most recent Sher Music release Jazz Scores and Analysis.
Dr. John Mills:
Dr. John Mills, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies in the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas - Austin, is a saxophonist and composer/arranger pursuing a wide range of concert and recording projects within the jazz idiom and beyond. John has composed extensively for both professional and university jazz ensembles, and he was awarded First Prize at the 2008 ArtEZ International Jazz Composition Contest in the Netherlands for If Memory Serves. In 2009 he collaborated with UT Professor Jeff Hellmer to score the first full orchestration of Duke Ellington’s unfinished folk-opera, Queenie Pie.
Dr. John Mills, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies in the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas - Austin, is a saxophonist and composer/arranger pursuing a wide range of concert and recording projects within the jazz idiom and beyond. John has composed extensively for both professional and university jazz ensembles, and he was awarded First Prize at the 2008 ArtEZ International Jazz Composition Contest in the Netherlands for If Memory Serves. In 2009 he collaborated with UT Professor Jeff Hellmer to score the first full orchestration of Duke Ellington’s unfinished folk-opera, Queenie Pie.
Matt Morey is a music educator, saxophonist, and composer based in Georgetown, Texas where he has served as a high school and middle school band director. He holds degrees in jazz studies and music education from The University of North Texas and Indiana University. A passionate advocate for jazz education, Matt composes music for all ability levels that has been performed throughout the United States and abroad. He has been named a Downbeat Student Music Award Winner and his compositions for middle and high school jazz band have twice been performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Robert "Beto" Skiles:
A long-time fixture on the Austin, Texas music scene, Robert "Beto" Skiles has written music for everything from solo cello to jazz bands to symphony orchestra. Best known as the leader of the Latin jazz group "Beto y los Fairlanes", Robert has created a musical legacy of energetic and entertaining music that engages the mind, soul, and feet simultaneously. He earned a Bachelor of Music Composition degree at North Texas State University, pursued graduate studies in Music Composition at the University of Texas - Austin, and taught at Austin Community College for over 25 years.
Dan Torosian:
Dan Torosian holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biochemistry from Harvard, and a Master of Music Degree in Music Composition from Southwest Texas State University. He currentlyworks in the Central Texas area as a performer, composer, and arranger, and is on the faculty at St.Edward’s University, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, and the Austin School of Music..
Dan Torosian holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biochemistry from Harvard, and a Master of Music Degree in Music Composition from Southwest Texas State University. He currentlyworks in the Central Texas area as a performer, composer, and arranger, and is on the faculty at St.Edward’s University, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, and the Austin School of Music..
