ARTISTIC DIRECTION
J.D. BURNETT
“When we sing together, we celebrate our sameness. We arrive as individuals, rich with unique identities, but are instantly transformed into a vessel of agreement. Inside the ranks, we animate words and sounds with shared understanding of their intention; we speak with one voice because we embrace our sameness. What better exercise, what better pursuit than to combine our individualities to reveal our shared humanity?
We come into this world screaming, and sometimes leave it the same way. Making sound is our most primal instinct. But when we affirmatively seek opportunity to organize our moaning, we unkink the conduit of meaning. That’s why I love ensemble singing.”
J.D. BURNETT enjoys a varied career as a conductor, singer, and teacher. He is the founding Artistic Director of Kinnara, Atlanta’s premier professional chamber choir, and Artistic Director of Orpheus Chamber Singers. Additionally, Burnett serves as the Director of Choral Activities at The University of Texas, Austin.
Formerly, he served as Associate Director of Choral Activities at The University of Georgia, Assistant Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, conductor of the New Jersey Youth Chorus Young Men’s Ensemble, Associate Conductor of the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey, and Acting Director of Choral Activities at Montclair State University. Earlier posts include Interim Director of Choral Activities at San Jose State University, Artistic Director of the New Jersey Chamber Singers, Music Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, Founder of Men’s Consort Houston. He also served as Choral Editor at McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Burnett did undergraduate study at Stanford University and Oklahoma State University. He holds advanced degrees in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and the University of North Texas.
As a professional choral singer, Burnett has performed seasons, concerts, and recordings with the Stillwater Chamber Singers, Cantare Houston, Fuma Sacra, Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Conspirare.