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Tonya Burton, MM
Adjunct Professor of Viola

GPAC 120B | 936.294.4544 | trb069@shsu.edu

Division | Strings

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Wammie award winner for ‘Best Classical Artist,’ violist Tonya Burton enjoys a diverse career of solo and ensemble playing. A sought-after artist, Burton performs at concert venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, Mixon Recital Hall and has been a featured guest on reputable radio programs. Her recent solo album featuring the music of Max Reger recently won a 2022 award for ‘Best Classical Song.’  

Burton is an active member of the Houston community and can be found performing at local libraries, retirement communities, churches and hospitals. She is a core member of Monarch Chamber Players, which provides free concerts in the Houston area. She can also be found performing with other Houston groups including, Aperio, Musiqa and Apollo Chamber Players.   

A proponent of new music, Burton frequently works with living composers and has premiered pieces by Pierre Jalbert, Karim Al-Zand, Nicky Sohn, Daniel Temkins, Clarice Assad, Ben Morris and Ian Gutherie. She programs and performs for Kinetic Ensemble, which is known for showcasing diverse, under-represented and newly composed classical music.  

Burton performs annually at the Caroga Lake Music Festival. Prior summers have been at esteemed festivals such as the Perlman Music Program, Talis Festival in Saas-Fee, Switzerland and Heifetz International Music Institute. She has collaborated with renowned artists including Donald Weilerstein, Jeffrey Irvine, Katherine Murdock, Mark Kosower, Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Richie Hawley and Fabio Di Càsola. 

  

Burton is on faculty at Â鶹¾«Æ· and maintains a thriving home studio. She received a Master’s in Music from Rice University and a Bachelor’s of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She also served as Katherine Murdock’s teaching assistant.