Leon Burke III began to dedicate his life to music when he began musical studies at age 12. His instruments were piano and organ but he also sang. By age 16 Burke began conducting orchestras. After attending McBride High School and graduating from John Burroughs School in St. Louis, he entered the Oberlin Conservatory in 1972. Upon graduation with a BM in Composition, he entered the University of Kansas and earned a MM and DMA in Conducting. He has been a Fulbright Fellow in Paraguay. 

Dr. Burke has served as Conductor/Music Director of the Lawrence Chamber Players, the Hutchinson Symphony, and the McPherson Symphony. He has also been on the faculties of Baker University, Sterling College, Hutchinson Community College, and Webster University. He is the former Music Director of the Alton Symphony. 

Dr, Burke is Conductor of the University City Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. He is the Choir Director at Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood. Outside of St. Louis he is the Conductor for the Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka and conducts the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He teaches voice as an adjunct faculty member at East Central College in Union, MO and St. Louis University. By day he is an Environmental Consultant working as a Project Manager with United Infrastructure Corporation. 

Eric Gaston, Artistic Programs Manager for the St. Louis Symphony 
O: (314) 286-4106; EricG@stlsymphony.org 

Allen Myers, Past President University City Symphony 
H: (314) 727-2840; allen.meyers@att.net 

Jerre Honke, President of the Alton Symphony Board of Directors 
H: (618) 462-2314; honke@sbcglobal.net 

Fred Onovwerosuoke, Director of African Musical Arts, Inc. and founder of the International Festival of African and African American Music, O: (314) 652-6800; fredo@fredomusic.com 

Luis Szaran, Music Director for Orquesta Sinfonica de la Ciudad de Asuncion, 011-595-21-492416 (Spanish speakers only); ls@luisszaran.org 

June Landrith, Artistic Director for the Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka 
H: (785) 256-6508, Ofc: (785) 271-0190 

Lisa Reiss, Program Coordinator for the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, C: (618) 979-8466; lisa4bpyo@gmail.com

CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
15 Oak Point Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947
D.M.A. Orchestral and Choral conducting, The University of Kansas (1982)
ï‚· Doctoral Thesis: The Education and Training of the American Conductor
M.Mus. Orchestral and Choral conducting, The University of Kansas (1978) ï‚· Degree granted with honors
B.Mus. Music composition, Oberlin Conservatory (1976)
ï‚· Piano studies with Sanford Margolis
ï‚· Orchestral conducting with Robert Baustian
ï‚· Choral Conducting with Daniel Moe
ï‚· Composition studies with Randolph Coleman
ï‚· Vocal studies with Richard Miller
Private Conducting Teachers:
William Schatzkamer (1968-70), John Covelli (70-72), George Silfies (1972), Daniel Moe and Robert Baustian (1973-76 Oberlin Conservatory), George Lawner and James Ralston (1976- 1982 The University of Kansas), Daniel Lewis and Jorge Mester (1977 Aspen Music Festival – Student Conductor), Richard Lert and Samuel Jones (1975-76 Shenandoah Valley Music Festivals – Student Conductor), Otto Werner Mueller (1982-83)
Conducting Master Classes:
Sir Georg Solti, Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim, Harold Farberman, Leonard Slatkin, James Dixon, Dennis de Couteau, Edo de Waart, Milton Katims, David Effron, Jorge Mester, Otto Werner Mueller, Daniel Lewis
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
English is my native language. I am fluent in Spanish and have some capability in German, French, Italian, and Portuguese.
CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE
The Alton Symphony Orchestra Alton, IL 2010 – 2012
Music Director and Conductor
ï‚· Pops, Educational and Subscription concerts

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 2 of 9
ï‚· Community Development
The University City Symphony University City, MO 1996 – present
Music Director and Conductor

•
ï‚· ï‚·
Expanded the season from five to six classical concerts, including one tour concert Doubled the budget from $15,000 to $30,000 annually
Raised the level of repertoire and the musicianship of orchestra players (e.g. Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde very competently performed in 2008)
Increased the caliber of guest artists to include international soloists such as Anna Lackshewitz (viola, Germany), Miguel Angel Echeverria (violin, Paraguay), Silvian Iticovici (violin, Romania) and Oscar Buriek (piano, Argentina)
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra St. Louis, MO 2001 – present
Cover Conductor
ï‚· Prepare concert repertoire and attend rehearsals and concerts (3-4 weeks per season)
Assistant Director for the Symphony’s Chorus
ï‚· Assist the Director in the preparation of the chorus for 6 concerts per season with the SLSO Guest Conductor
ï‚· Rehearsed and conducted the Black History Month Celebration Concert with the collaboration of the orchestra’s In Unison Chorus for Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy (February 2009)
The Midwest Lyric Opera St. Louis, MO 1995 – 2009
Conductor and Artistic Director
ï‚· Cast and prepare 2-3 operas per season, engage the accompanists and the orchestra, when budget permits, as well as conduct performances. When a suitable bass is not available, I sing the role and engage the guest conductors. The active repertoire includes Amahl and the Night Visitors (Menotti), The Impresario (Mozart), The Old Maid and the Thief (Menotti), I Pagliacci (Leoncavallo), and Die Fledermaus (J. Strauss Jr.).
Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka Topeka, KS 1989 – present
Conductor
ï‚· Prepare annual performances of Nutcracker (2) and another ballet during the season as the budget permits

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 3 of 9
Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita Wichita, KS 1986 – 1989
Conductor
ï‚· Prepared annual performances of Nutcracker (2) and another ballet during the season as the budget permits
Orquesta Sinfónica de la Ciudad de Asunción Asunción, Paraguay 1991-present
Principal Guest Conductor
ï‚· Conduct one subscription concert per season and conducting tour concerts/television specials while there
ï‚· Conducted for international stars like Queen Elizabeth of Belgium Competition winner, Vitaly Samosko
ï‚· Work with Music Director, Luis Szaran, to increase the musicianship of the orchestra
The Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Belleville, IL 1995 – present
Music Director and Conductor
ï‚· Prepare and Conduct three or four concerts each season as well as conduct the Memorial Day ceremony of the City of Swansea and Summer Intergenerational Orchestra
ï‚· Increased the level of competence of the orchestra through repertoire selection
ï‚· Sent players to play with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
ï‚· Developed the Parents’ Organization to provide operational and administrative support
The Cadenza Orchestra of the St. Charles County (MO) Youth Orchestra
Conductor
ï‚· Conduct three concerts per season of this beginner’s orchestra. AWARDS AND HONORS
ï‚· 2009 & 2011. Selected as conductor of the World Youth Orchestra (Sonidos de la tierra and Weltweite Klänge) for its South American tour.
2008 – 2013
ï‚· 2007. Selected as Conductor of the 200-voice Festival Chorus for the 2007 Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in Portland, OR.

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 4 of 9
ï‚· 1998. Southwestern Bell Artist in the Schools for the Belleville, IL Public Schools; gave solo in-school presentations in twelve elementary schools (public and private) in February.
ï‚· 1978. Awarded the Gino Marinuzzi Baton, Gino Marinuzzi Young Conductor’s Competition. San Remo, Italy
ï‚· Artist in Education for the Kansas Arts Commission (1978-91) Residencies included:
o o o o
ï‚·
Lawrence 1977-8, 1983-4 Hutchinson 1986, 1987, 1990 Arkansas City 1991
Topeka 1989
Kansas City 1988
PREVIOUS ORCHESTRAL POSITIONS
The Hutchinson (KS) Symphony
Music Director and Conductor
ï‚· Conducted four classical subscription concerts and one holiday pops, two chamber orchestra and one school concert
(1985-1994)
ï‚· Worked with the board to increase the annual budget from $25,000 to $85,000
ï‚· Raised the level of musicianship of the orchestra and raised the caliber of guest
artists
ï‚· The school concert included 7–9 chamber concerts in the schools with a chamber group of orchestra members
ï‚· The school orchestral concert was attended by 2,000 to 3,000 children annually and enrolment in high school music increased three-fold over five years of this program which I designed and instituted
The Lawrence (KS) Chamber Players (1977-1994)
Music Director and Conductor
ï‚· Conducted four of five subscription concerts and one run-out concert annually, one or two with chorus
ï‚· Worked with the board to double the budget from $15,000 to $30,000+ annually
ï‚· Expanded the repertoire of the ensemble from baroque to include classical and romantic works.

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 5 of 9
The University of Kansas Symphony
Conductor
ï‚· Duties included one opera, one holiday pops, two oratorios, one musical and two regular masterworks concerts
ï‚· Arranged, organized and conducted the orchestra on a 5-day Midwest tour GUEST CONDUCTING ENGAGEMENTS
Chaparral Music Festival (summers) 2010 to the present
Alton Symphony Orchestra (February 2010) for subscription concert
Various state and district orchestra festivals (High School) in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Florida
Wichita Symphony (April 1992) on tour in Hutchinson, KS
Grand Junction Symphony (May 1982) in Grand Junction, CO
McPherson Symphony (1985-86 season) in McPherson, KS as an interim conductor (4 concerts) Aspen Music Festival (Summer 1977) in Aspen, CO
Shenandoah Valley Music Festival (Summers of 1975-76) in Orkney Springs, VA
INTERNATIONAL CONDUCTING ENGAGEMENTS
The San Remo Orchestra (May 1977 in San Remo, Italy) – International Conducting Competition
Kaiserslautern (Germany) Youth Orchestra (September 1991 in Cascavel, Brazil) – Guest Artist at Cascavel International Music Festival
Cascavel Festival Orchestra (September 1991 in Cascavel, Brazil) – Guest Artist at Cascavel International Music Festival and also gave conducting master classes and taught voice.
National Youth Orchestra Festival (July 2006 in Concepción, Paraguay) – Guest conductor for the Festival Orchestra drawn from the entire country and gave conducting master classes for the conductors.
International Festival of African and African American Music (FESAAM) – 2001 (Saint Louis Symphony in St. Louis, MO) and 2004 (University City Symphony in Kansas City, MO).
OPERA AND BALLET CONDUCTING
ï‚· Opera Theater St. Louis, The Very Last Green Thing by Cary John Franklin (an opera for young people) with young artists cast by Opera Theater St. Louis (January, 1995)
ï‚· Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita (1985-1989 in Wichita) Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)
(1981)

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 6 of 9
ï‚· Chaka by Akin Euba (May, 2000 in St. Louis) with international guest artists, local musicians and the St. Louis African Chorus
COLLEGE TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 1977-1982

ï‚· Courses Taught: Choral conducting, orchestral conducting, score reading, opera workshop ï‚· Conducting responsibilities: director of new music ensembles, assistant director of
orchestra/opera Adjunct Professor, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS 1977-1982
ï‚· Courses Taught: Music appreciation
ï‚· Conducting Responsibilities: conduct the Lawrence Chamber Players on Visiting
Artist Series Professor, Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, KS 1982-
1985
ï‚· Courses Taught: Music appreciation, Piano, Voice
ï‚· Conducting Responsibilities: Band, Pep Band, Concert Choir, Show Choir
Adjunct Professor, Sterling College, Sterling, KS 1986-1993
Courses Taught: Theory, Orchestration, Piano
Adjunct Professor, Webster University, St. Louis, MO 2001  Courses Taught: Theory (ear training)
Adjunct Professor, East Central College, Union, MO 2004-present
ï‚· Courses Taught: Voice
ï‚· Conducting Responsibilities: Choir
Adjunct Professor, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 2005-present
ï‚· Courses Taught: Voice, Conducting
ï‚· Conducting Responsibilities: Concert Choir and Mastersingers (elite chamber chorus)

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 7 of 9
INTERNATIONAL STUDY AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
ï‚· Fulbright Fellow: Asunción Paraguay. 1994.
o Established the chorus at the La Universidad National de Paraguay
o Functioned as the Associate Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Ciudad de Asunción
o Researched South American orchestral composers for publication, prepared publications, and continue to perform worthy compositions with my orchestras.
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Assistant Director, St. Louis Symphony Chorus (2001-present)
ï‚· Prepare the chorus for major choral/orchestral works: Six per year on average Composer: Highlights of compositions in diverse media (acoustic, electronic, jazz).
ï‚· 1978-1983 Composer in Residence for the Kaw Valley Dance Theater (Lawrence, KS)
ï‚· 1990 Wrote the music for planetarium shows at the Kansas Cosmosphere
(Hutchinson, KS)
ï‚· 2008 Wrote music for First Run Theater’s festival of one-act plays. Radio Personality:
ï‚· 1972-1976 Announcer and Classical Music Director of WOBC – Oberlin, OH (Independent)
ï‚· 1976-1978 On-air host and producer of programs at KANU – Lawrence, KS (NPR)
ï‚· 1978-1980 Staff announcer for KXTR – Kansas City, MO (Independent Classical
Station)
ï‚· 1995-1997 Staff announcer for KWMU – St. Louis, MO (NPR)

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 8 of 9
Bass Vocalist: Significant experience as bass soloist with orchestras and opera – recent highlights include:
ï‚· Basso Profundo soloist for St. Louis Symphony’s 2011 performances of Stravinsky’s Les noces
ï‚· Bass Soloist for the annual Messiah by Handel in Harvard, Massachusetts 2010 to Present
ï‚· Bass Soloist for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for the Belleville Philharmonic 2008
ï‚· Bass Soloist for Rossini’s Stabat mater with the orchestra and choruses of
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
ï‚· Opera roles and complete performed repertoire are available upon request
Keyboard Player: Significant experience as an orchestral pianist and organist
ï‚· 1966-1972 Organist for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (St. Louis, MO)
ï‚· 1970-1972 Keyboard player (piano, celesta, and harpsichord) for the St. Louis
Symphony Youth Orchestra
ï‚· 1972 Pianist for the University City Symphony
ï‚· 1972-1976 Keyboard player (piano, celesta, and organ) for the Oberlin Orchestra and the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra
ï‚· 1973-1976 Organist for Kipton Community Church (Kipton, OH)
ï‚· 1976-1982 Keyboard player for the University of Kansas Symphony
ï‚· 1988-1992 Organist for First United Methodist Church (Hutchinson, KS)
ï‚· 1995 Successful audition as Substitute Keyboardist for the St. Louis Symphony
ï‚· 1995-1997 Pianist for Eliot Unitarian Chapel
ï‚· 1995-present Staff organist for the Old Peace Chapel, Daniel Boone’s Home
K-8 Music Teacher: Archdiocese of St. Louis 1995-1998
ï‚· St. Gregory School (1996-1998)
ï‚· St. Ferdinand School (1995-1998)
PUBLICATIONS
Singing the Journey (a Supplement to Singing the Living Tradition), Unitarian Universalist Association, 2005 [compiler and contributor]

Leon Burke III
CONDUCTOR • PIANIST • BASS VOCALIST • VOCAL COACH
Email: leonburke@aol.com • Cell: 314.566-1149 • Fax: 636.294.1947 • Page 9 of 9
Toscanini and Klemperer: A Comparison of their Performances of Beethoven’s 6th and 7th Symphonies
This excerpt from my doctoral document appeared in the Journal of the Conductor’s Guild, Volume 4, No. 3, 1982.
EDITING EXPERIENCE
ï‚· Editorial board for Chalice and Flame Press, Los Angeles, CA
ï‚· Translation consultant for Musical Consonance and Dissonance by Saul Gaona (the English
version of his innovative theory, originally in Spanish)
REFERENCES
Eric Gaston, Artistic Programs Manager for the St. Louis Symphony O: (314) 286-4106; EricG@stlsymphony.org
Allen Myers, Past President University City Symphony H: (314) 727-2840; allen.meyers@att.net
Jerre Honke, President of the Alton Symphony Board of Directors H: (618) 462-2314; honke@sbcglobal.net
Fred Onovwerosuoke, Director of African Musical Arts, Inc. and founder of the International Festival of
African and African American Music
O: (314) 652-6800; fredo@fredomusic.com
Luis Szaran, Music Director for Orquesta Sinfonica de la Ciudad de Asuncion 011-595-21-492416 (Spanish speakers only); ls@luisszaran.org
June Landrith, Artistic Director for the Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka H: (785) 256-6508, Ofc: (785) 271-0190
Lisa Reiss, Program Coordinator for the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra C: (618) 979-8466; lisa4bpyo@gmail.com