Singing Baby Superstar ..
"...the coolest man in the postal district ... and probably the planet", Evening Standard (national UK newspaper)
In a recent newpaper interview , Ken Burton was asked to describe what animal/creature would describe his personality. His response : a swan- generally likes to be outwardly calm , yet underneath the surface his brain is working like crazy. Music making in its various forms is integral to his life. As a performer, composer/arranger, conductor/director, adjudicator and educator, his work has been and continues to be experienced around the globe through the media of TV & Radio broadcasts, albums, journalistic articles, and several books published by major publishers.
Currently, Ken is musical director of AVE (Adventist Vocal Ensemble), Croydon SDA Gospel Choir and principal conductor of the London Adventist Chorale as well as a conductor and performer in his own right.
A quick snapshot of some performances and performance venues:
Toronto Sky Dome [50,000 audience] (conductor/pianist)
Sydney Opera House - (conductor/pianist)
Royal Albert Hall Proms [Conductor/composer]
Buckingham Palace: Prom At The Palace (Golden Juilee Concert) [Conductor/composer]
Wembley Arena [8,000 audience] (conductor/pianist/host]
VE Day Royal Gala -Coliseum [conductor]
Symphony Hall with CBSO [conductor/composer of entire 2 hr concert]
A quick snapshot of some of the TV Programmes:
Prom At The Palace [worldwide audience of 200 million] - featured artist and composer as a conductor of the London Adventist Chorale
Eastenders [largest UK soap opera] - it’s true, Ken was a conductor, and solo singer on ’Stand By Me’ Christmas 2002 (wedding of Billy & ’Little Mo’ Mitchell, & death of Jamie Mitchell ], and later at the wedding of Patrick & Yolande
Songs Of Praise- (regular appearances as singer, conductor, music director, instrumentalist, featured interviews)
LiVE for Peace (the LiVE is not a spelling error, by the way) a live Gala performance for HRH Prince Charles, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of VE Day - the end of the second world war; shared the stage with Rowan Atkinson, Celine Dion, Piers Brosman, Michael Barrymore et al..
ITV: The X Factor- no, not as a contestant, but Ken has supplied and performed with many of the gospel backing singers for this, the largest entertainment programme in the UK
Flashmob:the Opera- this was a television first - a live TV performance of an opera from a UK train station. Scary stuff !! With Ken’s Croydon SDA Gospel Choir
It’s rumoured that Ken will be hosting his own 28 part show for a satellite TV channel.
A quick snapshot of some of his works published
Faber Music publish Ken Burton’s arrangements in three volumes : 1. Feel The Spirt, 2. Good News, 3. Ready To Ride
Oxford University Press commissioned Ken Burton to work with Bob Chilcott on the Oxford Christmas Spirituals For Choirs as co-editor and composer/arranger.
RSCM Voices For Life - Ken Burton was one of the composers for this exciting new book
A quick snapshot of some of his works composed/arranged and performed
for Leslie Garrett (BBC2 Television ’Lesley Garett Christmas Show)- arrangement of ’Angels From the Realms Of Glory’ for Leslie, guest soloist and BBC Orchestra and band
Soul Symphony - an entire concert performed by City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ; Ken composed most of the music, including a symphonic overture; he conducted the concert with 150 choral voices and Black Voices at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
Spiritual Journey (soon to be released on CD) - a suite of new and arranged a cappella Spirituals tracing the journey of that music from its African roots to American plantations
Take The Time For Change - receiving its world premiere at Three Choirs Festival, UK
regular arrangements for BBC Television Songs Of Praise
