Garth Baxter
(1946 - )
Composer Garth Baxter is noted for his modern traditionalist style of writing. This is a style that combines the traditions of form and clear melodic writing with the use of contemporary approaches to harmonies and other elements. He is recognized as one of the preeminent composers of art songs and has been described as an unabashed lyrical, tonal composer.
Baxter was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1946, and moved to California when he was nine years old. He earned music degrees from Pepperdine University and California State University at Northridge. He studied composition with Robert Hall Lewis, Joseph Wagner, and William Thornton. He studied guitar with Ronald C. Purcell and David Underwood.
Baxter’s compositions include intimate solos and songs, music for chamber groups, orchestral works and operas. His compositions have been performed around the world. His music has been featured on radio and online programs worldwide. He has received numerous awards, commissions, and honors. His music has been the topic of doctoral and master’s theses. His work And Death Shall Have No Dominion, for chorus and orchestra, was named a Gold Medal Winner in the 2026 Global Music Awards.
There have been five commercial recordings of his music.
His recording, ASK THE MOON, works for voice and piano by Garth Baxter, was released January 2018 by PARMA Recordings (Navona).
The recording Katherine Keem Sings Songs and Arias by Garth Baxter, was released in 2014 from Centaur Records.
A recording of Baxter’s instrumental works, Resistance, was released from PARMA Recordings (Navona) in February 2019.
A recording of songs, chamber music, piano music and choral music from Mr. Baxter, Ask of me What the Birds Sang, from PARMA Recordings was released in December 2022.
The single, And Death Shall Have No Dominion was released April 2026 by Navona Records.
Baxter’s works are published by Les Productions D’OZ, Doberman-YPPAN, ALRY Publications, Columbia Music Company, Guitar Chamber Music Press, Mel Bay Publications, North Star Music, and Theodore Presser.