
Biography
Wammie award winner for ‘Best Classical Artist,’ violist Tonya Burton enjoys a diverse career of both solo and ensemble playing. She has been a featured artist for the Houston Viola Society, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas Lutheran University and has been featured on the All Classical Portland 89.9 station as well as the Los Angeles KCRW 89.9 station. Her recent solo album featuring the music of Max Reger recently won a 2022 Wammie award for ‘Best Classical Song.’
An active chamber musician, Burton is a core member of Kinetic, both performing and programming for the Houston based ensemble known for showcasing diverse, under-represented and newly composed classical music. She is also a core member of Monarch Chamber Players and a founding member of the Natonya Duo.
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 currently on faculty at Sam Houston State University. She received a Master’s in Music from Rice University, studying with James Dunham, a Bachelor’s of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of Jeffrey Irvine and served as Teaching Assistant to Katherine Murdock while working on her Doctorate at the University of Maryland.