MEET OUR YOUNGEST MEMBER! Oskar Baron ( @oskarbaronmusic ), 16, is a student at Onteora High School in Boiceville, where he is an active member of the orchestra, jazz band and chamber ensemble.

He also plays gigs around NYC and studies piano, violin, composing and arranging at Bard Conservatory Prep.

Oskar is the son of #Local802 member David Baron ( @davidofbaron ), a record producer, film composer and sound engineer who runs #SunMountainStudio near Woodstock.

In fact, Oskar is an apprentice at the studio, where he learns about production and recording, and Oskar and David have collaborated together on father-and-son albums.

Oskar recently joined #Local802 because he has been working under union contracts in his current recording projects.

Oskar tells us, “I believe that the union provides a basis for musicians to make a living out of all the hard work. We get to make music we love and also plan for a future. The most important part of a musician — making music — often is interrupted by a bunch of outside noise. Not only does the union allow making a living possible, it also allows the most amount of growth and performance that a musician can have.”

Oskar says he hopes to make as much music as possible, explore many genres and “hopefully meet some great people along the way!”

His most favorite recent gig was playing #MerkinHall in NYC, but “I also really liked playing on ‘Lost and Found,’ with @darrenkielymusic . I really enjoyed the musicianship and production.”

Oskar enjoys his collection of vintage synthesizers that his dad gave him, and he loves doing personal electronic music projects in addition to his other work.

“Music is absolute home,” says Oskar. “My dad is a record producer. My grandfather was a recording engineer who recorded #Mingus and the #AllmanBrothers. From the very beginning I have been surrounded by heaps of music and now it is all I turn to for expression, guidance, and everything in between.”

Welcome to the union, Oskar!

Musicians can join Local 802 at www.local802afm.org/join (students pay NO initiation fee!)