Juno Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir to perform with McMaster students
Alumnus Karen Burke co-founded the Juno Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir in 1988. She'll lead the choir at a weekend performance, alongside the McMaster Choir, at Westdale United Church.
Students in the McMaster Choir will get an experience like no other when they perform alongside the Juno Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir – and its alumna director Karen Burke – Jan. 19.
The 35-member Toronto Mass Choir will perform “An Evening of Gospel Music” at 7:00 p.m. at the Westdale United Church, as part of the yearlong Spotlight on the Arts festival.
Burke, who graduated from the music program in 1983, co-founded the Toronto Mass Choir with her husband in 1988.
Although her musical specialization as a student was as a pianist (she studied under well-known classical pianist Valerie Tryon), Burke’s roots are in gospel singing. She participated in the McMaster Choir and later became its president, taking on conducting responsibilities.
“The great thing about the McMaster music department was that you could focus on your own interests,” says Burke. “I really appreciated that it was a smaller and more personal program.”
Her experiences with McMaster music and later the Royal Conservatory of Music allowed her to combine her earlier years performing gospel music with that of her formal training.
“McMaster gave me the language to be able to show what I know,” she says.
The McMaster Choir, under the direction of Rachel Rensink-Hoff, an assistant professor in the School of the Arts, will be taking full advantage of Burke’s return to McMaster.
The group will participate in a special workshop taught by Burke and will learn to perform a small selection of songs that will be performed at the concert.
