Ken Burton is a music creator (both on page and record), director, performer, educator, and judge. His music is performed around the globe on stage and screen. He is known for his breadth of music experience and bringing different musical worlds together. His most common output is in the field of sacred music.
THE COMPOSER
Ken Burton's compositions and arrangements are performed around the world by singers and musicians, and his music is featured on mainstream UK television nearly every week on BBC1's Songs Of Praise. With music ranging from a cappella to music for full symphony orchestra, his music has been performed by some of the world's leading professional choirs - including ORA, the Flemish Radio Choir, and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, and has even featured on the Glastonbury main stage; his instrumental music played by major orchestras including BBC orchestras, and CBSO. His music has been published by Edition Peters, Faber, OUP, RSCM, Walton and on his own Voquality label.
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THE CONDUCTOR
Ken Burton directs several choirs, and has conducted several orchestras and bands. He directs: London Adventist Chorale, Croydon SDA Gospel Choir, and for broadcast, recording and film work has a range of ensembles he contracts:
Adventist Vocal Ensemble (AVE), Voquality Singers, Vocal Creation.
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As well as his regular and guest conducting, he is well known as a workshop leader and regularly directs workshops in Europe.
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He has also directed for film and television sound scores, among them Black Panther 1, Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever, Jingle Jangle.
THE PERFORMER
Ken Burton performs as a keyboard accompanist, occasional solo pianist, and as a singer - both solo, and ensemble. His performances are on stage, screen and studio. He is musical director, arranger and group singer with the soulful gospel male quartet Tessera, one of BBC television's best loved sacred vocal groups. He carries the same role with the trio Dixon, Burton & Billett - which specialises in gospel Classical crossover. As a studio session musician - which he often works in the role of contractor as well as contracted (for major contractors including Capital Voices and London Voices), he has contributed to many commercial songs, television programmes, and films.
TELEVISION
Ken Burton has contributed to hundreds of works - many his own arrangements - which have been broadcast on national UK television, and television stations around the world. His TV roles are as performer (singer/accompanist), conductor, musical director, music advisor, music producer, TV judge, interviewee, expert, studio guest, music arranger/composer both for the main programmes and special theme tune arrangements. He is featured regularly on BBC1's flagship programme Songs Of Praise.
He has been a TV judge on a number of TV series, among them BBC 2's 8 part series Sing While You Work, Channel 4 Gospel Singers Of The Year, BBC Choir Of The Year, and BBC Songs Of Praise. He has also been a studio guest for events including the Queen's 50th Jubilee live procession, with presented David Dimbleby.
Several of his television arrangements have been performed by major international commercial artists.
COMPOSITIONS
See/hear/purchase sheet music. This will have links to the various publications
EVENTS
TOO HOT TO HANDEL: GOSPEL MESSIAH | choir trainer/singer/soloist | 22/12/2024 | BBC4 Television |
SONGS OF PRAISE | performance with Tessera | 08/12/2024 | BBC1 Television |
SONGS OF PRAISE | conducting | 29/12/2024 | BBC1 Television |
SONGS OF PRAISE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL | conducting the programme, filmed at Huddersfield Town Hall | 15/12/2024 | BBC1 Television |
ANNOUNCING FAVOURITE CAROL | announcing a seasonal favourite as part of a special feature on Radio 3 | 09/12/2024 | BBC 3 Radio |
TOO HOT TO HANDEL: GOSPEL MESSIAH | choir trainer/singer/soloist | 17/12/2024 | PBS Television |