In Residence: SHSU

Violist Tonya Burton enjoys a diverse career of both solo and ensemble playing. She recently won third place in the 2023 American Prize for Instrumental Soloists, ‘Best Classical Artist’ in the D.C. Wammie awards, and a track from her solo album won a 2022 Wammie award for ‘Best Classical Song.’ She has performed in major venues across the United States, Canada, China, Switzerland and Italy.

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.

A sought-after educator and clinician, Burton has given masterclasses for Corpus Christi A&M, Kansas State University, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the Houston Viola Society. Burton currently serves on faculty at Sam Houston State University and maintains a thriving home studio. She received a Master’s in Music from Rice University studying with James Dunham, a Bachelor’s of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of Jeffrey Irvine, and served as Katherine Murdock’s Teaching Assistant while working on her Doctorate at the University of Maryland.