James Burton (conductor): Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

[[File:James Burton portrait by Marco Borggreve.jpg|thumb|upright|Burton in 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ikonarts-editionpeters.com/artists/instrumentalists-conductors/james-burton/|title=James Burton|website=ikonarts-editionpeters.com|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>|alt=]]

[[File:James Burton portrait by Marco Borggreve.jpg|thumb|upright|Burton in 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ikonarts-editionpeters.com/artists/instrumentalists-conductors/james-burton/|title=James Burton|website=ikonarts-editionpeters.com|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>|alt=]]

”’James Burton”’ (born 1974) is a British conductor and [[composer]].

”’James Burton”’ (born 1974) is a British conductor and [[composer]]. He is currently the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]] choral director and conductor of the [[Tanglewood Festival Chorus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bso.org/conductors/james-burton.aspx|title=BSO Choral Director and Conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus Alan J. and Suzanne W. Dworsky chair, endowed in perpetuity Boston Symphony Orchestra {{!}} bso.org|website=www.bso.org|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

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== Conducting ==

== Conducting ==

In February 2017, the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]] appointed Burton as choral director, a newly created position, and conductor of the orchestra’s [[Tanglewood Festival Chorus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2017/02/02/bso-names-james-burton-new-tanglewood-festival-chorus-conductor/rIA81tJ1fs1nj5Jm7N1crK/story.html|title=BSO names James Burton the new Tanglewood Festival Chorus conductor|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> He gave his Boston Symphony subscription series debut in 2018, and in April 2019 he replaced an indisposed [[Gustavo Dudamel]] to conduct a series of concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus at Boston [[Symphony Hall, Boston|Symphony Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2019/04/12/without-dudamel-south-american-tour-rerouted-but-not-canceled-symphony-hall/DnS9cbxpHxEoIy80YemcUK/story.html|title=A South American tour is rerouted (but not canceled) at Symphony Hall|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> Burton gave his [[Boston Pops]] debut with Holiday Pops concerts at Symphony Hall in December 2017, and his [[Tanglewood Music Festival|Tanglewood Festival]] debut was in June 2019 with a Boston Pops concert of the music of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] with [[Marc Martel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/103513/|title=Official Website of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc. {{!}} Tanglewood|website=www.bso.org|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> Burton founded the Boston Symphony Children’s Choir in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/musicians/boston-symphony-childrens-choir.aspx|title=The Boston Symphony Children’s Choir (BSCC) Boston Symphony Orchestra {{!}} bso.org|website=www.bso.org|access-date=2020-03-29|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401175916/https://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/musicians/boston-symphony-childrens-choir.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 2017, the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]] appointed Burton as choral director, a newly created position, and conductor of the orchestra’s [[Tanglewood Festival Chorus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2017/02/02/bso-names-james-burton-new-tanglewood-festival-chorus-conductor/rIA81tJ1fs1nj5Jm7N1crK/story.html|title=BSO names James Burton the new Tanglewood Festival Chorus conductor|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> He gave his Boston Symphony subscription series debut in 2018, and in April 2019 he replaced an indisposed [[Gustavo Dudamel]] to conduct a series of concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus at Boston [[Symphony Hall, Boston|Symphony Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2019/04/12/without-dudamel-south-american-tour-rerouted-but-not-canceled-symphony-hall/DnS9cbxpHxEoIy80YemcUK/story.html|title=A South American tour is rerouted (but not canceled) at Symphony Hall|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> Burton gave his [[Boston Pops]] debut with Holiday Pops concerts at Symphony Hall in December 2017, and his [[Tanglewood Music Festival|Tanglewood Festival]] debut was in June 2019 with a Boston Pops concert of the music of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] with [[Marc Martel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/103513/|title=Official Website of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc. {{!}} Tanglewood|website=www.bso.org|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> Burton founded the Boston Symphony Children’s Choir in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/musicians/boston-symphony-childrens-choir.aspx|title=The Boston Symphony Children’s Choir (BSCC) Boston Symphony Orchestra {{!}} bso.org|website=www.bso.org|access-date=2020-03-29|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401175916/https://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/musicians/boston-symphony-childrens-choir.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Burton has been a frequent guest conductor of the [[National Symphony Orchestra (Mexico)|National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico]], leading performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in the [[Palacio de Bellas Artes]] to celebrate the orchestra’s 90th anniversary in 2018. Other international appearances have included the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston USA, Aalborg Symphony in Denmark,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Promenadekoncert, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, August 29 2024, Aalborg, Denmark {{!}} Watch Online |url=https://www.operabase.com/productions/promenadekoncert-263545/en |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Operabase |language=en}}</ref> and in 2017 Burton was the guest director of Japan’s National Youth Choir.

Burton has been a frequent guest conductor of the [[National Symphony Orchestra (Mexico)|National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico]], leading performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in the [[Palacio de Bellas Artes]] to celebrate the orchestra’s 90th anniversary in 2018. Other international appearances have included the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston USA, Aalborg Symphony in Denmark,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Promenadekoncert, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, August 29 2024, Aalborg, Denmark {{!}} Watch Online |url=https://www.operabase.com/productions/promenadekoncert-263545/en |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Operabase |language=en}}</ref> and in 2017 Burton was the guest director of Japan’s National Youth Choir.

In his native UK, Burton has conducted concerts with the [[Royal Liverpool Philharmonic|Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra]], the [[Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment]], [[The Hallé]], the Ulster Orchestra,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio Ulster – Classical Connections with John Toal, The Living Air, Photographs from St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast – 13 September, 2024 – The Living Air concert in St Anne’s Cathedral with John Toal, Tara Mills, Declan Harvey, Codetta Choir and the Ulster Orchestra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0jqpyds/p0jqq18y |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=BBC}}</ref> the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, [[Royal Northern Sinfonia]], [[BBC Concert Orchestra]] and [[Manchester Camerata]]. He has conducted opera performances at [[English National Opera]], [[English Touring Opera]], and [[Garsington Opera]] where he won the [[Leonard Ingrams]] award in 2008. Burton’s choral conducting has included Tenebrae, the Gabrieli Consort, the Choir of the Enlightenment and the Wrocław Philharmonic Choir. In 2017, Burton conducted the [[BBC Singers]] at the inaugural season of [[Dubai Opera|Dubai’s Opera House]] as part of [[The Proms|BBC Proms]] Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/rjfhzc|title=BBC Symphony Orchestra|website=BBC Music Events|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> From 2002 to 2009, he was choral director at [[The Hallé]] and conductor of the [[Hallé Choir]], winning the [[Gramophone Classical Music Awards|Gramophone]] Choral Award in 2009 for a recording of [[Edward Elgar|Elgar]]’s ”[[The Dream of Gerontius]]”. Burton was music director of the [[St Endellion|St. Endellion]] Easter Festival from 2007 to 2013, succeeding [[Richard Hickox]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Hickox and the St Endellion Festival |url=http://www.endellionfestivals.org.uk/page23.html |access-date=6 February 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In his native UK, Burton has conducted concerts with the [[Royal Liverpool Philharmonic|Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra]], the [[Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment]], [[The Hallé]], the Ulster Orchestra,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio Ulster – Classical Connections with John Toal, The Living Air, Photographs from St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast – 13 September, 2024 – The Living Air concert in St Anne’s Cathedral with John Toal, Tara Mills, Declan Harvey, Codetta Choir and the Ulster Orchestra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0jqpyds/p0jqq18y |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=BBC}}</ref> the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, [[Royal Northern Sinfonia]], [[BBC Concert Orchestra]] and [[Manchester Camerata]]. He has conducted opera performances at [[English National Opera]], [[English Touring Opera]], and [[Garsington Opera]] where he won the [[Leonard Ingrams]] award in 2008. Burton’s choral conducting has included Tenebrae, the Gabrieli Consort, the Choir of the Enlightenment and the Wrocław Philharmonic Choir. In 2017, Burton conducted the [[BBC Singers]] at the inaugural season of [[Dubai Opera|Dubai’s Opera House]] as part of [[The Proms|BBC Proms]] Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/rjfhzc|title=BBC Symphony Orchestra|website=BBC Music Events|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> From 2002 to 2009, he was choral director at [[The Hallé]] and conductor of the [[Hallé Choir]], winning the [[Gramophone Classical Music Awards|Gramophone]] Choral Award in 2009 for a recording of [[Edward Elgar|Elgar]]’s ”[[The Dream of Gerontius]]”. Burton was music director of the [[St Endellion|St. Endellion]] Easter Festival from 2007 to 2013, succeeding [[Richard Hickox]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Hickox and the St Endellion Festival |url=http://www.endellionfestivals.org.uk/page23.html |access-date=6 February 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Burton has worked frequently with young musicians. From 2020 to 2024 he was director of orchestral activities and master lecturer in music<ref name=”:3″>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=James Burton {{!}} College of Fine Arts |url=https://www.bu.edu/cfa/boston-university-college-of-fine-arts-appoints-new-faculty/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-11-02 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref> at [[Boston University School of Music|Boston University]]. He founded the Hallé Youth Choir in 2003, and from 2002 to 2017 he was the music director of [[Schola Cantorum of Oxford]],<sup>[12]</sup> leading the choir on international tours, recordings on the [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]] label<sup>[13]</sup> and appearing in [[BBC]] TV films about British composers made by [[John Bridcut]].<sup>[14]</sup> He founded the [[Schola Cantorum of Oxford]] conducting scholarship in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.schola-cantorum.net/conducting-scholarship.html|title=Conducting Scholarship|website=Schola Cantorum of Oxford|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Burton has worked frequently with young musicians. From 2020 to 2024 he was director of orchestral activities and master lecturer in music<ref name=”:3″>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=James Burton {{!}} College of Fine Arts |url=https://www.bu.edu/cfa/boston-university-college-of-fine-arts-appoints-new-faculty/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-11-02 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref> at [[Boston University School of Music|Boston University]]. He founded the Hallé Youth Choir in 2003, and from 2002 to 2017 he was the music director of [[Schola Cantorum of Oxford]],<sup>[12]</sup> leading the choir on international tours, recordings on the [[Hyperion Records|Hyperion]] label<sup>[13]</sup> and appearing in [[BBC]] TV films about British composers made by [[John Bridcut]].<sup>[14]</sup> He founded the [[Schola Cantorum of Oxford]] conducting scholarship in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.schola-cantorum.net/conducting-scholarship.html|title=Conducting Scholarship|website=Schola Cantorum of Oxford|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Compositions ==

== Compositions ==

British conductor and composer (born 1974)

Burton in 2018[1]

James Burton (born 1974) is a British conductor and composer.

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in London, Burton studied at Westminster Abbey Choir School and he became head chorister of the choir of Westminster Abbey in 1987. He was awarded a music scholarship to Radley College, and a choral scholarship to St John’s College, Cambridge, where his initial interest in conducting was encouraged by Christopher Robinson. Burton holds a master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied orchestral conducting with Frederik Prausnitz and Gustav Meier.[2]

In February 2017, the Boston Symphony Orchestra appointed Burton as choral director, a newly created position, and conductor of the orchestra’s Tanglewood Festival Chorus.[3] He gave his Boston Symphony subscription series debut in 2018, and in April 2019 he replaced an indisposed Gustavo Dudamel to conduct a series of concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus at Boston Symphony Hall.[4] Burton gave his Boston Pops debut with Holiday Pops concerts at Symphony Hall in December 2017, and his Tanglewood Festival debut was in June 2019 with a Boston Pops concert of the music of Queen with Marc Martel.[5] Burton founded the Boston Symphony Children’s Choir in 2018.[6]. Burton concluded his tenure with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in August 2025.[7]

Burton has been a frequent guest conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, leading performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in the Palacio de Bellas Artes to celebrate the orchestra’s 90th anniversary in 2018. Other international appearances have included the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston USA, Aalborg Symphony in Denmark,[8] and in 2017 Burton was the guest director of Japan’s National Youth Choir.

In his native UK, Burton has conducted concerts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Hallé, the Ulster Orchestra,[9] the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Royal Northern Sinfonia, BBC Concert Orchestra and Manchester Camerata. He has conducted opera performances at English National Opera, English Touring Opera, and Garsington Opera where he won the Leonard Ingrams award in 2008. Burton’s choral conducting has included Tenebrae, the Gabrieli Consort, the Choir of the Enlightenment and the Wrocław Philharmonic Choir. In 2017, Burton conducted the BBC Singers at the inaugural season of Dubai’s Opera House as part of BBC Proms Dubai.[10] From 2002 to 2009, he was choral director at The Hallé and conductor of the Hallé Choir, winning the Gramophone Choral Award in 2009 for a recording of Elgar‘s The Dream of Gerontius. Burton was music director of the St. Endellion Easter Festival from 2007 to 2013, succeeding Richard Hickox.[11]. In January 2026, Ex Cathedra announced the appointment of Burton as its next artistic director, effective with the 2027-2028 season. Burton is to take the title of artistic director-designate in the spring of 2026.[12]

Burton has worked frequently with young musicians. From 2020 to 2024, he was director of orchestral activities and master lecturer in music[13] at Boston University. He founded the Hallé Youth Choir in 2003, and from 2002 to 2017 he was the music director of Schola Cantorum of Oxford,[12] leading the choir on international tours, recordings on the Hyperion label[13] and appearing in BBC TV films about British composers made by John Bridcut.[14] He founded the Schola Cantorum of Oxford conducting scholarship in 2011.[14]

Burton’s compositions are published by Wise Classical, Faber Music and Edition Peters.[15] He has received commissions from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé, Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, the National Portrait Gallery,[16] Edmund’s Trust, and the Exon Festival where he was composer in residence in 2015.[17] His arrangements have been played by the Boston Pops, and he orchestrated the album In Times Like These[18] for American folk singer Arlo Guthrie.[19]

Larger compositions

[edit]

Other selected works

[edit]

  • O iter fortissimum (2024) SATB, 4 minutes[27]
  • Laudibus in Sanctis (2019) SATB and organ, 5 minutes[28]
  • St Cuthbert and the Otters (2018) SATB and 2-part children’s choir, 8 minutes[29]
  • Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (2016) SATB and organ, 5 minutes[30]
  • O Thoma! (2016) SATB, 4 minutes[31]
  • Magnificat (2016) SATB, 4 minutes
  • Psalm 67 (2016) SATB, 4 minutes
  • Remember, O thou man (2016) SATB, 4 minutes
  • Te lucis ante terminum (2014) SATB, 6 minutes[32]
  • Oculi Omnium (2013) SATB 2, minutes
  • On Christmas Night (2013) SATB and orchestra (or organ), 5 minutes
  • Balulalow (2012) SATB, 2 minutes[33]
  1. ^ “James Burton”. ikonarts-editionpeters.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  2. ^ “James Burton Ikon Arts Edition Peters artist biography”.
  3. ^ “BSO names James Burton the new Tanglewood Festival Chorus conductor”. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  4. ^ “A South American tour is rerouted (but not canceled) at Symphony Hall”. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  5. ^ “Official Website of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc. | Tanglewood”. www.bso.org. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ “The Boston Symphony Children’s Choir (BSCC) Boston Symphony Orchestra | bso.org”. www.bso.org. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  7. ^ Steven Ledbetter (29 August 2025). “Beethoven’s Ninth Still Draws ’em In”. The Boston Musical Intelligencer. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  8. ^ “Promenadekoncert, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, August 29 2024, Aalborg, Denmark | Watch Online”. Operabase. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  9. ^ “BBC Radio Ulster – Classical Connections with John Toal, The Living Air, Photographs from St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast – 13 September, 2024 – The Living Air concert in St Anne’s Cathedral with John Toal, Tara Mills, Declan Harvey, Codetta Choir and the Ulster Orchestra”. BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  10. ^ “BBC Symphony Orchestra”. BBC Music Events. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  11. ^ “Richard Hickox and the St Endellion Festival”. Retrieved 6 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ “Ex Cathedra announces James Burton as next Artistic Director succeeding founder Jeffrey Skidmore after 57 years” (Press release). Ex Cathedra. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  13. ^ “James Burton | College of Fine Arts”. www.bu.edu. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. ^ “Conducting Scholarship”. Schola Cantorum of Oxford. Retrieved 31 March 2020.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ “Composer”. www.editionpeters.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  16. ^ “The Portrait Choir – Audio Guide”. NPR. Retrieved 31 March 2020.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ “Rubicon Classics”. rubiconclassics.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  18. ^ Kozinn, Allan (26 November 2007). “Folk, With an Unusual Bunch of Instruments”. The New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  19. ^ “Arlo Guthrie’s website”. Archived from the original on 31 December 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  20. ^ a b Fanto, Clarence. “New choral work highlights a refreshing evening of music at Tanglewood on Parade gala”. The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  21. ^ “The Lost Words wins the Beautiful Book Award at this year’s Books Are My Bag Reader’s Awards”. www.penguin.co.uk. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  22. ^ “Singing The Lost Words Back to Life Boston Symphony Orchestra | bso.org”. www.bso.org. Retrieved 23 March 2020.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ “National Youth Choir to sing pieces by NYCGB Alumnus James Burton at BBC Proms”. National Youth Choirs GB. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  24. ^ “BBC Radio 3 – BBC Proms, 2019, Prom 49: The Lost Words – Finding The Lost Words in music”. BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  25. ^ “RSNO: A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Edinburgh Music Review. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  26. ^ “A Titanic adventure in Cornwall | Classical-Music.com”. www.classical-music.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  27. ^ The Choir of New College Oxford (13 November 2024). O Iter Fortissimum by James Burton sung by the Choir of New College Oxford dir. Robert Quinney. Retrieved 29 November 2024 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ “Celebrating 150 Years of Music”. All Saints Episcopal Church. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  29. ^ Calendar, The Events. “Youth Choirs: Cuthbert and the Otters | Music in Durham | Concerts”. Music in Durham. Retrieved 23 March 2020.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ “BBC Radio 3 – Choral Evensong, James Burton: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (1st perf.)”. BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  31. ^ “BBC Singers”. BBC Music Events. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  32. ^ The Portrait Choir – Topic (22 June 2018). Te Lucis ante Terminum. Retrieved 29 November 2024 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ “The Sixteen at Christmas: A Ceremony of Carols”. planethugill.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

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