About
Mission & core values
Many Songs. Many Voices. Music For The Human Grace.
The William Baker Choral Foundation began in Atlanta in 1985, when Dr. William O. Baker created the ensemble that became the New South Festival Singers. The Foundation itself was established in 1990. In 1998 the work took root in Kansas City with the William Baker Festival Singers, and the organization now makes its headquarters at 5450 Buena Vista Street in Roeland Park, Kansas. Chicago’s Vox Venti joined in 2022, and Iowa Festival Singers followed in Forest City. Today fifteen ensembles in five states offer concerts, education, a lending library, and voice research — Many Songs. Many Voices. Music for the Human Grace.
William O. Baker, DMA, Founder & Director
The mission of the William Baker Choral Foundation is to educate and empower musicians and their audiences in the American South, the Midwest, and beyond. This unique arts organization features outstanding music performance and practical education, preserves choral music in its renowned lending library, teaches healthy singing, and promotes talented, young composers and music directors. The Choral Foundation’s core values include a meaningful diversity of experience and expression; opportunity for musicians of all ages, levels, and financial situations; and accessibility for both performers and audiences.
Quality
It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to promote and present repertoire of the highest musical, artistic and poetic quality. Furthermore, it is a core value of our organization to reflect the highest level of excellence in every area of our administrative and organizational life.
Diversity
It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to reflect a worldwide diversity of cultural experience and expression through our programs, choice of venues and promotional efforts.
Opportunity
It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to provide opportunities for singers, both youth and adults, to perform in excellent choral ensembles appropriate to their interest and abilities. It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to equip music professionals with resources to help them increase their musical and leadership skills toward their own pursuit of excellence.
Accessibility
It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to bring down all barriers to choral enjoyment and performance. This includes a “no barriers” policy toward membership tuition, concert tickets and recordings. No person will ever be denied the benefits of the Choral Foundation based on ability to pay. Further, the Choral Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, sexual orientation, religion and national origin in its employment and membership policies.
Education
It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to provide educational opportunities for choral enthusiasts and music professionals through our performing ensembles, consulting and partnering efforts. Further, through our varied performance ensembles, the Choral Foundation is committed to music education for all ages from youth to adult.
Involvement
It is a core value of the Choral Foundation to be involved in the life of our wider community through performance partnerships with community, school and faith-based music organizations, and through concerts that raise awareness and funds for organizations that seek to alleviate human suffering and promote increased opportunity for all people.
The William Baker Choral Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation of the State of Kansas, licensed for business in Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa.