BIOGRAPHY
Rob Burton
British Saxophonist Rob Burton won the Woodwind Category Final of BBC Young Musician 2018 and went on to secure a place in the Grand Final at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, where he performed as concerto soloist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Highlights since then include appearances with some of the UK’s leading orchestras, such as Britten Sinfonia and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as well as at prestigious international festivals, including Leicester, Cheltenham, Harrogate, and Oundle International Festivals. Featured as one of Classic FM’s “Stars of Tomorrow”, he has performed in prestigious London venues, namely Wigmore Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, St. James’ Piccadilly, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
Rob was winner of Silk Street Sinfonia’s Young Artists Concerto Competition, the 2019 Hans Schaeuble Award in Switzerland, as well as winner of the ‘Sussex Prize for Woodwind’ in the Royal Overseas League Annual Music Competition Final. An avid performer of new music, his recent performances have included multiple premieres, of music by Brian Elias, Richard Baker, Fabian Panisello and New Zealand-composer, Ross Harris.
His 2021/2022 season included his debut at London’s Wigmore Hall and Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well as appearing as concerto soloist for the world premieres of new concerti by British composers Paul Carr and Nathan James Dearden.
Rob previously studied Classical Saxophone on a full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music with Huw Wiggin, and as Sax.co.uk scholarship holder at the Junior Guildhall School of Music, during which he was Principal Saxophone with the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain. He has recently completed his Masters degree at the Zürich University of the Arts (ZHdK) in the renowned class of professor Lars Mlekusch, and has been accepted on the prestigious Advanced Diploma degree at the Royal Academy of Music, starting September 2024.
Selected as a 2022 Rahnkultur Fonds scholarship winner, Rob is also a Vandoren UK artist and is grateful for the support of YCAT through their aftercare scheme for BBC Young Musician finalists.