DIRECTORS

Mr. Brandon Baker is thrilled to be joining the staff at Westlake High School as Head Choir Director. Mr. Baker holds a Master of Music Education degree from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he graduated with honors and was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Student Hall of Fame.
 

Mr. Baker’s teaching career spans multiple states including Texas, Georgia, and
Mississippi, where he has taught at both middle and high school levels. Most recently, Mr.Baker served as the Choral Director at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, where he led four choirs and taught AP Music Theory. Prior to his role at Hendrickson, Mr. Baker taught at Discovery High School outside Atlanta, where he was recognized as Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022. He began his teaching career in DeSoto County in Mississippi at Horn Lake Middle School and High School.

Throughout his career, Mr. Baker has grown programs in quantity and quality. His choirs have consistently achieved superior ratings at competitions, including UIL Sweepstakes Awards and honors at the American Classics Competition, Music in the Parks, and the Capital City Clash.
 

Mr. Baker sings in several professional choral ensembles, including Kinnara, Orpheus Chamber Singers, Unheard, and Austin Cantorum. He is also a staff singer and rehearsal assistant at University Presbyterian Church.
 

Mr. Baker is excited to embark on this new chapter and looks forward to carrying the tradition of excellence and to continuing his commitment to music education.

Chris Vineis is joining the Westlake High School choir program as Assistant Director and couldn't be more excited!

 

Ms. Vineis received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Oklahoma State University where she studied conducting and private voice with famed American composer and conductor, Z. Randall Stroope. At OSU, she served as a soprano section leader and was a frequent featured soloist in recordings with Concert Chorale and the Spirit of OSU Jazz Ensemble. After graduating OSU, Ms. Vineis entered the University of Texas at Austin to pursue and attain a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting Performance. There she studied conducting with Dr. JD Burnett and Dr. Suzanne Pence, and served as TA for multiple choral area courses. Ms. Vineis had the privilege of teaching UT’s first ever class on Vocal Fundamentals. Lastly, she directed UT’s premiere pop ensemble, the Longhorn Singers.

 

Ms. Vineis is an Austin native and two-time TMEA All-State singer! She is the current music director at the Church at Highland Park. In addition, she received level I Kodály certification at the University of Oklahoma. Ms. Vineis, who has been described as a lyric coloratura soprano, toured Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany with the OSU Concert Chorale and sings with the professional ensemble New American Voices.

 

Suffice it to say, Ms. Vineis wants all to know she is SO proud to join the esteemed and talented Westlake High School choir program!

Originally from Southern Ohio, Matthew Radford is excited to begin his journey at Westlake High School!  

 

Mr. Radford attended the University of Dayton (U.D.) in Dayton, Ohio where he pursued his degree in Choral Music Education.  While at U.D., he was a member of the Collegiate Chorale, World Music Choir, Early Music Ensemble, Remedy (pop a cappella), Opera, the Pride of Dayton Marching Band, and various chamber ensembles.  In 2015, he competed in the Harmony Sweepstakes National A Cappella finals in San Francisco, California.  

 

Upon competition of his degree at U.D., Mr. Radford taught K-12 music in Lancaster, Ohio.  After one short year, he returned to his Alma Mater in Waverly, Ohio.  At Waverly High School, he conducted the Women’s Chorus, Madrigal Singers, Concert Choir, and Polarity (pop a cappella).  In addition, he directed the spring musicals and managed the recording studio.  In 2019, Mr. Radford had the honor of directing, Polarity, who placed 3rd in the Harmony Sweepstakes National A Cappella competition. Later that year, Polarity released their first studio album, recorded entirely at Waverly High School. 

 

Recently, Mr. Radford completed his Masters of Music Degree in Choral Conducting at Bowling Green State University where he studied with Dr. Richard Schnipke, Dr. Mark Munson, and Dr. Emily Freeman Brown.  At the University, Mr. Radford taught Choral Techniques to undergraduate music majors and was the Choral Music Education Teaching Assistant.  

 

An advocate of pop a cappella, technology, and contemporary choral arranging, Mr. Radford’s arrangements can be heard on stages across the country.