 |
Leon Burke IIIAmerican musician, singer and conductor
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Biography of Leon Burke III
Leon Burke III is an American musician, singer, and conductor from St. Louis, Missouri. He began studying music at the age of 12 and was already conducting orchestras at the age of 16.
Early Life and Education
Leon Burke III was born in St. Louis, Missouri, into a family of educators. He attended Mc Bride High School and John Burroughs School. His aunt, who was the first African American woman to receive a doctorate degree from St. Louis University, had a significant influence on his life and introduced him to Dr. Martin Luther King when he was a child.
At the age of 12, Leon had his first music lesson and decided to dedicate his life to music. He played the piano and organ, and also had a talent for singing. He furthered his musical education at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Kansas, and studied in Paraguay through the Fulbright Program.
Professional Career
Leon Burke is the musical director and conductor of the University City Symphony Orchestra and an assistant conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus. He also conducts the Cadenza Orchestra for the Saint Charles County Youth Orchestra Program and serves as the musical director of the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Additionally, he leads the choir at the Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood.
Outside of the St. Louis area, Leon Burke is the conductor for the Metropolitan Ballet in Topeka, Kansas, where he conducts performances of "The Nutcracker" every December. He also conducted Gian Carlo Menotti's opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 2008. He teaches vocal music at East Central College and St. Louis University.
As a conductor, he performs mainly during the summer with the National Orchestra of Paraguay, where he is the principal guest conductor. He also collaborates with the National Youth Orchestra in Paraguay. In the summer of 2009, he performed concerts in Tucuman, Argentina.
Throughout his career, Leon Burke has been the conductor and musical director of the Lawrence Chamber Players, Hutchinson Symphony, and McPherson Symphony. He has been part of the faculty at Baker University, Sterling College, Hutchinson Community College, and Webster University.
He is an active member of the Unitarian Universalists Musicians Network and was a member of the UUA New Hymn Resource Task Force, formed in 2003 to create a new hymn for congregations.
Awards and Recognition
Leon Burke received the Arts for Life Award for his outstanding achievements in conducting for his work on the production of "Titanic" at Spotlight Theater in 2003. His other works for Spotlight Theater, including "Chicago," "Jekyll and Hyde," and "West Side Story," have been nominated for Best Musical Production, and he himself has been nominated twice for Best Musical Director.
Leon Burke has been selected as a guest conductor for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. His debut concert with the SLSO took place on February 21, 2009.
