The Legacy of Sam Baker 

Today, we recognize an exceptional student who has demonstrated outstanding talent and passion in the realm of Performing and Visual arts. This award signifies not only their remarkable accomplishments, but it also highlights the profound role that the arts play in shaping and enriching our lives.

As teachers of the arts, we advocate passionately for the arts- not because your child will become an actor or an artist (breathe easy, parents!) but because the skills they promote weave into the fabric of our lives in such beautiful and unique ways. 

To study the arts is to understand the history of human civilization. To analyze it is to gain insight into the human condition and to create it is to communicate emotions and narratives. It is a Lingua Franca, a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries, and a powerful tool for communication and self-expression.

An artist becomes recognized as an artist when they begin to share this unique world-view outwardly, becoming a performer rather than merely an observer. 

The undeniable talent and dedication of this year's award recipient have not gone unnoticed. We have witnessed not just their talent, but have seen how integral the arts are to their DNA. They can reference classics and pop culture. They really stepped out of their comfort zone to take risks and share their talent in Performing Arts class and killing it! in the Middle School play. 

Whether it's a discussion on Renaissance art or a thoughtfully designed floor plan, their maturity and strong work ethic are evidence of their passion for the arts. So much so, that in this age of auto correct and AI, they still chose to hand-write their art history notes, so that they could master the information better and still aced the test.

We are thrilled to present the 2025 Arts award to Emma Lewis.

I am honoured to announce this year’s recipient of the Sam Baker Memorial Award for Achievement in the Arts- both Visual and Performing. This is a student who profoundly understands that the arts uniquely represent a subject area that nourishes the soul as well as the mind. In addition to making beautiful and meaningful artwork and a commitment to thoughtful and resonant performances, they are able to reflect deeply on the greater personal and global implications that the Arts provides. They possess not only the skills needed, but also humility, the patience of a saint, perseverance and dedication to the artistic process, producing consistently outstanding work in both the Visual and Performing Arts. This is a student who takes those words from Hamilton to heart:  “Look around, look around”.  They are inspired and ignited by the art in the world around them.  And they will no doubt make their own contributions to that world.  We are honoured to present the Sam Baker Memorial Award for Achievement in the Arts to Leia Herskovitz.

Emily received her award at her home during a live Zoom broadcast of the Leo Baeck graduation ceremony in Jun 2020.

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Click here to see a video of  Sam Shepherd and Jonah Opler (Leo Baeck class of 2014) introducing  Emily as winner of The Sam Baker Award for Achievement in the Arts on June 23, 2020.

Mia was the inaugural winner of this award at the Leo Baeck graduation ceremony in June 2019.

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Click here to see a video of  Jonah Opler and Dana Aronowitz (Leo Baeck class of 2014) introducing  the inaugural winner of The Sam Baker Award for Achievement in the Arts on June 25,2019.

Isaac was born with a passion for the Arts.  One of the reasons we chose Leo Baeck was for its commitment to the Arts.  He has loved going to the theatre from a young age, and is an incredible visual artist.  Isaac took every opportunity to experience the arts at school, whether it was designing and drawing the yearbook cover, performing in the middle school play, singing in the Baeck Jr choir, or painting a mural for LB@50.  He is excited to continue exploring the arts next year at CHAT.

Today, we recognize an exceptional student who has demonstrated outstanding talent and passion in the realm of Performing and Visual arts. This award signifies not only their remarkable accomplishments, but it also highlights the profound role that the arts play in shaping and enriching our lives.

Art is not a mere accessory,  an extravagance. To study the arts is to understand the history of human civilization. To analyze it is to gain insight into the human condition.  To create it is to communicate emotions and narratives. It is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries, and a powerful tool for self-expression. Through artistic expression, we are able to communicate our emotions, thoughts, and ideas in ways that words alone cannot capture. The arts cultivate creativity and innovation, nurturing the very skills that are vital in today's  world. 

They encourage us to think outside the box, to challenge the status quo, and to envision a future that is vibrant and  inclusive. The artist is not just an entertainer but a visionary, a storyteller, and a catalyst for change. 

Our recipient’s talent and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Your talent is a manifestation of dedication, discipline, and a commitment to cultivating your craft. As you continue on your artistic journey, remember that the impact of your art reaches far beyond the confines of this stage or the walls of this school. You have the power to touch hearts, to inspire change, and to make a lasting impact on the world around you. As your Performing Arts and Visual Arts teachers, we have witnessed not just your talent, but the kindness, patience and respect with which you relate to both your peers and your teachers. Every time a new assignment was introduced, you would quite literally be ‘chomping at the bit”, eager to get started and put your own creative spin on whatever the task was. After reading your reflection in tonight’s program, I’m glad to say we are on the same page… stage… canvas. We are thrilled to present the 2023 Arts award to Laine Merkur.

I am honoured to announce this year’s recipient of the Sam Baker Memorial Award for Achievement in the Arts- both Visual and Performing.  This is a student who profoundly understands that the arts uniquely represent a subject area that nourishes the soul as well as the mind. In addition to making beautiful and meaningful artwork and his commitment to thoughtful and resonant performances, he is able to reflect deeply on the greater personal and global implications that the Arts provides. He possesses not only the skills needed, but also humility, perseverance and dedication to the artistic process, producing consistently outstanding work in both the Visual and Performing Arts. We are honoured to present the Sam Baker Award for Achievement in the Arts to Lior Markus.

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Click here to see Ms. Gene Teeger's speech about Sam and presenting the award to Lior.