About Me
Tony Burdette, founding Artistic Director of Voices of the Commonwealth, is an accomplished conductor and tenor soloist. As a conductor, he was most recently the Associate Conductor
and Chorus Master for the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra. He has prepared choruses and conducted performances of Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Four Sacred Pieces, and many others. He has conducted choirs and directed vocal ensembles at
churches for over 15 years. He was the student conductor of his undergraduate concert choir and chamber ensemble.
As a concert soloist, Tony has performed with the Asheville Choral Society (NC), Jefferson Choral Society (VA), The Chorus of the Blue Ridge (VA), Bach Society of Dayton, Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, Lebanon Symphony Orchestra, Bach Association of Cincinnati, CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, Northern Kentucky Community Chorus and Orchestra, Marietta College, and Alderson-Broaddus College, in such works as J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, St. John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s St. Paul, Mozart's Requiem, Orff's Carmina Burana, and many others.
Tony earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He also has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Vocal Performance, Church Music, and Music Education from Alderson-Broaddus College (Philippi, WV).
At CCM, Tony was a tenor soloist in
J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. In addition, he performed the following roles in the opera program: Journalist in
Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Tirésias, Gelsomino in Rossini's Il Viaggio à Reims, and Tamino in scenes from Mozart's
Die Zauberflöte. Of his performance as the Journalist, Opera magazine wrote, "...it was delicately sung and
hilariously acted." As an undergraduate, Tony won a statewide competition in West Virginia earning the opportunity
to participate in a masterclass with opera legend, Marilyn Horne. Tony is a member of the professional chorus of Cincinnati Opera, and is a past member of the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati.
Tony is married to Joy, also a singer and professor of voice at Northern Kentucky University, with whom he often appears in recital. They have two children and reside in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.
Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Tony Burdette, Voices of the Commonwealth, an ensemble of the Northern Kentucky School of Music, is a 70-voice community chorus for adults in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati. Dedicated to presenting inspiring and... moreFounded in 2011 by Artistic Director Tony Burdette, Voices of the Commonwealth, an ensemble of the Northern Kentucky School of Music, is a 70-voice community chorus for adults in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati. Dedicated to presenting inspiring and innovative programs that engage and enrich audiences, Voices of the Commonwealth has made quite an impact on the musical life of Northern Kentucky in two short years. Committed to collaboration and community involvement, Voices of the Commonwealth has partnered with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Disabled American Veterans National Headquarters, Highlands High School choral department, the Northern Kentucky Children's Ensemble, local veterans groups, churches, and musicians. less
Dan Forrest's REQUIEM FOR THE LIVING
1. Introit-Kyrie
2. Vanitas Vanitatum
Voices of the Commonwealth
Northern Kentucky Youth Sinfonia
Tony Burdette, conductor
St. John's United Church of Christ
Newport, Kentucky
November 16, 2014
Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Tony Burdette, Voices of the Commonwealth, an ensemble of the Northern Kentucky School of Music, is a 70-voice community chorus for adults in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati. Dedicated to presenting inspiring and... moreFounded in 2011 by Artistic Director Tony Burdette, Voices of the Commonwealth, an ensemble of the Northern Kentucky School of Music, is a 70-voice community chorus for adults in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati. Dedicated to presenting inspiring and innovative programs that engage and enrich audiences, Voices of the Commonwealth has made quite an impact on the musical life of Northern Kentucky in two short years. Committed to collaboration and community involvement, Voices of the Commonwealth has partnered with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the Disabled American Veterans National Headquarters, Highlands High School choral department, the Northern Kentucky Children's Ensemble, local veterans groups, churches, and musicians. less