Ken Baldwin, Friend

I first met Ken Baldwin 23 years ago during the Chicago Symphony's Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Ill. At the time we were seeking a new assistant principal bassist for the Oregon Symphony. Ken had heard of the opening and arranged to play for me while I was in Chicago. Ken had studied with my former teacher, so I was eager to hear him. I was impressed with him from the moment I met him and encouraged him to come to Oregon and take the audition. He won the job hands down.

There are few jobs where you work as closely with a colleague as in a string section of a symphony orchestra. You have a common goal of playing the same part, in the same close physical proximity, with identical styling. You move and breathe together and are dramatically affected by the physical and musical nuances of the other. You get to know each other better than you can imagine.

In my 45 years of playing professionally with several orchestras and several stand partners, I have never had a better friend and colleague. We laughed together, got bugged together and endured some bad conductors together. And more often than not, we were overwhelmed together by the beauty of the music – and at our good fortune of being able to make a living playing it. Ken and I never had a harsh word. Our support for each other was as good as it gets.

When someone close to us dies, it's always a shock, especially when the person is not in those so-called “golden years” and is relatively young. Ken was 48, with a wife, Jeanie, and four great kids; Jake, Ellie, Keith and Ray.

It is always very difficult to deal with such tragic events. In the case of Ken Baldwin's passing it is particularly hard to accept because he was such an exceptional person. He was a fine bass player. He was committed to the orchestra and played with passion and dedication to the music. He was a caring teacher to his students. He was incredibly devoted to his family. But without a doubt, his greatest gifts were his genuine good nature and his humanity.

It's true. I knew him well. Anyone who met Ken liked him immediately. Anyone who knew him well loved him. We were drawn to Ken. It is inconceivable that he is gone, and he is sorely missed.

Frank Diliberto
Principal Bass