Tonya Burton

Tonya Burton serves as an Adjunct Professor of Viola in the Strings Division at Sam Houston State University's School of Music, maintaining an active dual career in both academia and professional performance.

Her educational background includes:

• Master's in Music from Rice University
• Bachelor's of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music

Burton is a highly accomplished violist specializing in classical and contemporary music performance. As a dedicated proponent of new music, she frequently collaborates with living composers and has premiered works by Pierre Jalbert, Karim Al-Zand, Nicky Sohn, Daniel Temkins, Clarice Assad, Ben Morris, and Ian Gutherie. She regularly performs with Kinetic Ensemble, which focuses on showcasing diverse, under-represented, and newly composed classical music. Her performance career spans prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, and Mixon Recital Hall, and she has been featured on reputable radio programs.

Her notable achievements include:

• Wammie award winner for 'Best Classical Artist'
• 2022 award for 'Best Classical Song' for her solo album featuring Max Reger's music

Burton maintains an active teaching schedule while also serving as Katherine Murdock's former teaching assistant and operating a thriving private home studio. Her community engagement extends beyond the university as she performs regularly at Houston area libraries, retirement communities, churches, and hospitals.

She is a core member of Monarch Chamber Players (providing free concerts in Houston), and performs with Aperio, Musiqa, and Apollo Chamber Players. Burton performs annually at the Caroga Lake Music Festival and has participated in the Perlman Music Program, Talis Festival in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, and Heifetz International Music Institute. Her collaborations include work with renowned artists such as Donald Weilerstein, Jeffrey Irvine, Katherine Murdock, Mark Kosower, Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Richie Hawley, and Fabio Di Càsola.