Meet Ori Baruch | Composer, Music Director and Educator.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ori Baruch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ori, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
When I was in high school, I read an interview with one of my favorite authors, the late Diana Wynne Jones, best known for her fantasy novel ‘Howl’s Moving Castle.’ In the interview, she mentioned that when she was younger, no one read her stories, so she made up her own. She wrote stories that she wanted to read herself. I can’t explain why, but those words resonate with me to this very day. Perhaps as a teenager, I needed that affirmation from someone I admired, encouraging me to ‘go my own path’ or, even more emphatically, to ‘carve my very own unique path.’ To this day, these words are etched in my mind and serve as a guiding compass. When I make music, I create the kind of music that I personally enjoy listening to. In every project I’m involved in and every role I fulfill, I strive to infuse it with my own personality, to find passion in it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve had the honor of working on numerous projects across various mediums. One of the biggest projects I’ve been involved in over the past few years was writing original music for an upcoming documentary series, which I am extremely excited for the day it airs. This year, I’ve been serving as the musical director for an upcoming production of Into The Woods Jr., scheduled for May. Earlier in the year, I composed music for an archaeological exhibition held in the Old City of Jerusalem, which was a highly enjoyable experience. Music for me serves as a vehicle to explore different cultures and is an invitation for experimentation. While I am a classically trained pianist naturally drawn to orchestral and classical music, I am equally inspired by folk, world music, and my Jewish-Israeli background. I am also a big fan of pop and rock music, and I am amazed by some contemporary producers and electronic musicians. Coming from a very small country and having lived many years abroad, I like to merge the different sounds and experiences I’ve encountered and aim to create something new that’s uniquely me.

Although it is hard to pinpoint one field in which I concentrate, if I were to identify a common thread among all my projects so far, it would be my desire to tell a story. In today’s climate, I believe artists ought to be versatile and open-minded, and this is a principle I follow myself, as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

In the words of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, ‘A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.’ When it comes to traveling, I prefer preparing a minimal itinerary. I settle on several clear destinations but leave the journey itself spontaneous and unexpected. There is something magical about accidentally finding a coffee shop or a hidden spot in the city.

But if I were to plan a trip to Los Angeles, I would love to base it on my favorite movie, ‘(500) Days of Summer,’ which is set in the city. Architecture and the city of Los Angeles in general play a key role in the movie, similarly to how New York City becomes its own character in ‘Sex and the City.’ I’d love to explore all the locations and buildings featured in the film. Another city that is dear to my heart and worth a shoutout is Boston. If I were to plan a trip there, it would most probably start at The Public Garden, which is, as its name suggests, a botanical park open to the public, and is the ‘heart’ of the city. I will continue to the waterfront area in the North End neighborhood and head to what I like to call ‘my secret spot,’ a lovely hidden wharf with a beautiful view of the ocean and the city skyline.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be the musician I am today without the amazing teachers I’ve had the privilege to study with, especially my very first piano teacher, a one-of-a-kind and passionate musician named Yelena who hailed from St. Petersburg, Russia. It was thanks to her that I fell in love with classical music and was introduced to masterpieces of the past. She was also the first person to encourage my compositional endeavors. Music education, in general, holds a special place in my heart as it’s a prominent part of my career. I’m a music teacher and music director myself, working extensively with kids of all ages and levels. I understand the crucial and formative influence my music teachers had on me, which is why I feel compelled to nurture the next generations of musicians. Sometimes musicians and artists tend to forget that many years ago, The Great Masters — from Bach to Mozart and even Bernstein — were teaching music alongside their prolific careers. It’s not a glamorous job; in fact, it’s rarely ever glamorous at all. However, I’ve learned so much from my teaching experience, and being a teacher has undoubtedly made me a better musician. I am forever grateful to my piano teacher, as well as to all the teachers and professors I’ve encountered throughout my career, both in my home country, Israel, and later at my alma mater, Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Website: https://www.oribaruch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ori.baruchh/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oribaruch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ori.baruch.5

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbnbMQ26j1iOYTYVETac7w

Image Credits
Raymond Yu