Daily Inspiration: Meet Ori Baruch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ori Baruch.

Hi Ori, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Thank you so much for your time and for interviewing me; it is my pleasure! My musical journey officially started around the third grade. One afternoon at my friend’s house during a playdate, after a few hours of playing and frolicking, we had to stop because she had a piano lesson. I gladly accepted the offer to sit quietly in the corner of the room and watch. That same night, I went back home and begged my mom to sign me up for piano lessons. The rest is history, as they say.

Music and the piano have become central parts of my life. I participated in almost every school event or ceremony, and I was part of several local bands, collaborating with countless musicians and artists. Later on, I made a momentous decision to move all the way to the other side of the world after being accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston. Coming from a relatively small country like Israel, that was a huge step. It has shaped me into the musician I am today—more well-round, braver, a risk-taker. Throughout my life, I’ve been fascinated by different cultures and traditions, and living in a city with such a diverse community has certainly impacted me in the best possible way. I was—and still am—so inspired by all the new sights around me and the people I’ve met that I experienced a tremendous burst of creativity and productivity.

I’m glad that taking risks paid off, as I had the opportunity to collaborate with some extraordinary musicians and participate in exciting projects. Recently, I music-directed two plays (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Fiddler on the Roof), developed a new curriculum for music production for middle schoolers, and composed an original score for an upcoming 4-part documentary series expected to be released soon on National Geographic and Disney+. I’m very eager for the day it finally gets released—it’s an amazing and fascinating project!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey was far from smooth. If I could earn a dollar for every ‘no’ I’ve received in my life, I would be very rich by now. Unfortunately, an artist’s life entails a great deal of rejection and criticism. I constantly have to silence my inner voices of doubt and remain resilient.

Perhaps the most significant struggle I’ve encountered so far was right after college. When I reached my last semester, life seemed very promising: I specialized in Film Scoring and Contemporary Conducting, and started planning my new future. I was ready to welcome the new challenges that life had to offer me fresh out of college, eager to learn more and take on the world. The only issue was that I graduated in May 2020, and as we all know, the world was deep in a global pandemic with no end in sight. A career in music felt almost impossible. For better or worse, one thing about me is that once I set a goal, I go to great lengths to achieve it. So, I knew that even if the world was falling apart, I would do whatever it takes to make it work.

The first year after graduation wasn’t easy, to say the least. Opportunities were scarce, if not nonexistent, and there were extended periods of artistic drought. It was around that time I found my way into music education, something I am very grateful for. I understood that I had to keep making music to retain my sanity, and teaching music provided me with that opportunity. In fact, it sharpened my musical senses and genuinely made me a better musician. Also, during that period, I reached out to every person I knew and accepted every opportunity that came my way. I can’t say this is how I envisioned my life fresh out of college, but it was better than nothing.

Then, after nearly a year of radio silence from Lady Luck, I received an email with an offer to score an upcoming high-profile documentary series. I had to read that email several times to ensure I wasn’t hallucinating. As the world began returning to a sense of normalcy, more opportunities emerged. These included becoming a musical director and developing a new music production program. Who would have thought that being busy, sleepless, and battling deadlines would bring me so much joy! I’ve learned that, in many cases, life has its own pace, and all I can do is be prepared for any opportunity that might come my way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It’s hard to pinpoint one specific field in which I specialize, as I’ve had the honor of working on numerous projects across various mediums. If I were to identify a common thread among all my accomplishments so far, it would be my desire to tell a story. I’ve composed music for media, directed musicals, collaborated with authors, and played the piano alongside countless singers and players. In each of these instances, my aim is to take the listener on a journey through my music or performance. Music possesses a magical power to transport listeners to different worlds, offer fresh perspectives on reality, or illuminate events that deserve to be brought into the light.

I am very proud of the music I composed for the documentary, which pushed me to new limits and enabled me to experiment with new sounds and styles. Similarly, I am proud of my latest EP “Strangers”. The documentary score is very versatile and grand in scale, whereas my EP is very introspective and intimate.

My life motto is to always create the kind of music I myself would want to listen to. I aim to infuse my personal touch and identity into the music, honoring my Jewish and Israeli roots, all the while taking the music to new heights. I hold myself to high standards, especially in music, and I never settle for mediocrity—whether it’s a personal project or a collaboration.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Contrary to my nature, which appreciates routine and the familiar, I often challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone. I can’t claim it’s effortless, but I recognize my disposition and understand that success in the music industry demands taking risks.

One significant risk I embraced was leaving my home and family to move across the Atlantic. I’m fortunate to have a supportive and loving family, yet being so far away from them isn’t always simple. In hindsight, I would make the same decision again, as it has opened doors to numerous opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t have come my way.

Funnily enough, another risk I took was to remain in America during the pandemic. A voice within me cautioned that stepping back might jeopardize the progress I had made. So I embraced the hardships and placed a lot of trust in both myself and my journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oribaruch.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ori.baruchh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ori.baruch.5
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oribaruch/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@oribaruch/videos
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/oribaruch

Image Credits
Raymond Yu Lior Chai Tamar Skowronski