Howard Baer is a versatile music professional known for his roles as an arranger, producer, MIDI design specialist, composer, keyboardist, musical director, and conductor. His compositions are frequently featured on network television across Canada and have been utilized in educational institutions in the USA, England, Germany, China, Malaysia, and South Korea. Additionally, his music has reached audiences in the UK, Australia, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, and Japan.
From 1972 to 2010, Baer was active in creating music for television and film through BAERTRACS MUSIC PRODUCTION, where he amassed over 7,000 recorded arrangements. His work earned him seven JUNO nominations for album production, including a win for arranger in 1999. He composed and conducted numerous scores for various media, including "Peter Ustinov in China," the Winter Olympic Games (CBC TV Sports), "Return Journey" (with Stephanie Powers), "Sesame Street," "CBC SportsWeekend," "Computer Insider," and "Phantom of the Opera" (with David Copperfield), as well as several IMAX films. Baer served as music producer for three IMAX films showcased at the OSAKA WORLD'S FAIR in 1990 and was involved in the high-profile project "TITANICA." His production work extended to numerous studios in Toronto, Ottawa, Minneapolis, Dallas, Beijing, Budapest, Mainz, and Lusaka.
Baer's orchestral writing began in the late 1970s with an album project for French Canadian vocalist Monique Morel, leading to a live orchestra presentation at Ottawa's National Arts Centre in 1980. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he incorporated orchestral arrangements into various studio advertising projects, album productions, and television specials. His musical scores for radio and television ad agencies have been a staple for many years, with production work for notable brands such as Toyota, PetroCanada, TSN, Skydome, Eatons, Hewlett Packard, CHUM Radio, MS Society, IGA, Food City, Scotiabank, Addiction Research Foundation, Federal Express, Ultramatic, and Mohawk College.
A dedicated producer and arranger of music for children, Baer began this work in 1975, continuing until 2010. He developed extensive programs for leading educational providers, including Berandol Music, Fisher-Price, GLC Publishers Limited, Hohner, Kindermusik, MacMillan/McGraw-Hill, Musik Garten, Pied Piper International, Sangjiwon Inc, Schott Music, and Sesame Street TV.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Baer collaborated with orchestras on several IMAX films, taking on roles such as music producer, musician contractor, orchestrator, composer, and conductor in major Toronto studios. He received commissions from Maestro James McKay and wrote for, as well as made guest appearances with, the Toronto Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, and Buffalo Philharmonic, under the direction of Maestro Boris Brott. His music for the 2000 WORLD'S FAIR in Hanover, Germany, co-written with Bruce Stacey and orchestrated by Baer, was recorded by a 60-piece orchestra he conducted at the renowned Magyar Radio Studios in Budapest.
Baer’s music production is featured on 18 SOLITUDES & AVALON releases, available in Canada, the USA, and internationally. As a performer, he has appeared as a guest synthesizer specialist with orchestras such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. He has also played trumpet with the Stratford Festival Orchestra and has served as musical director and keyboardist for various theatre, cabaret, and revue productions across Canada. In addition to his extensive conducting experience in studio settings, Baer has been active in the community, serving as conductor of the Hamilton Concert Band and the North Hastings Community Choir, as well as musical director for multiple musical theatre productions. During his time in North Hastings, he chaired Performing Arts Bancroft for three seasons, served on the Algonquin Arts Council, and participated in the Playhouse Operations Committee.
