Heather Baker is in her third year as a graduate student at Kansas State University, where she is completing her Ph.D. research in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in “Music Education,” “Ensemble Conducting,” and “Qualitative Research.” She spent two years as a teaching assistant with the K-State band program, holding roles as a Concert Ensemble Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) (rehearsal/conducting for Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Concert Band), Athletic Band GTA (managing/conducting Cat Band and Volleyball Band), and Marching Band GTA, including drill writing, teaching, and producing the drill for the Veterans Day Halftime Show “Armed Forces Medley” (Nov 2023, Nov 2024). Heather also supervised an undergraduate conducting practicum for numerous undergraduate conducting students in the University Band (Spring 2024, 2025).

Heather holds an undergraduate degree from Ball State University (Muncie, IN) and a Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL). While at VanderCook, Heather served as the Music Technology GTA for Educational Music Technology (2010–2012), represented her peers on the Student Senate as the Master’s Student Representative (2011–2012), and was honored with the 2012 Master’s Student “Esprit de Corps” Award (selected by the VCM faculty) as well as the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Award for Outstanding VanderCook Student (Xi Kappa Chapter, 2012).

Prior to her Ph.D. studies, she taught for eleven years in the Indiana Public School system. During her time in public education, her school system was recognized as a NAMM “Best Community for Music Education” every year from 2016 to 2023. In 2013, she received the Roseanne Rosenthal Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award from the VanderCook College Alumni Association.

Heather’s professional involvement includes membership in the National Band Association and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). She is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, an alumnae member of Sigma Alpha Iota, and a member of various state music educator associations in Texas, Indiana, and Kansas. In 2025,  she was invited to join the prestigious, multidisciplinary Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Heather’s leadership and scholarship have been recognized with several honors: she is a 2024 Intern Scholar for the Technology In Music Education (TI:ME) Leadership Academy and was named an Outstanding Music Educator Award Recipient by Quinlan and Fabish Music in 2021. She received the Timothy R. Donoghue Graduate Scholarship at Kansas State University for 2023, 2024, and 2025. She has been chosen as a volunteer with the Conn-Selmer Institute program for over 15 years, receiving the “Hall of Fame” Award in 2015. She has served as a Midwest Clinic Assistant for the December international band and orchestra music convention (2023, 2024, 2025, 2012) in Chicago, IL.

Heather is also active as a presenter and guest conductor, including presenting “Empowerment Beyond Borders: Women Inspiring Women” at the Tau Beta Sigma Women in Music Event (2025), guest conducting a New Music Reading Session hosted by Quinlan & Fabish Music (2021), and received an invite to be a panelist for the GTA Orientation at Kansas State University’s Teaching & Learning Center (2025).

Heather and her husband, Dan, have two children. The family enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, kayaking, camping, and traveling. Dan is the Executive Producer of Heart of America (HOA) Productions, LLC, coordinating performance events for elite choirs across America. The Bakers live in Manhattan, Kansas, with their dogs, Daisy and Lola.

-- Go Cats!