Education
University of British Columbia. The Royal Conservatory of Music.
University of British Columbia. The Royal Conservatory of Music.
Some music critics have likened his compositional style to that of Benjamin Britten and Maxwell Davies. He remained at the school, earning a bachelor"s degree in 1983 and a master"s degree in 1984. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of British Columbia in 1989.
In 1987 Burge joined the music faculty at Queen"s University where he continues to teach music theory, analysis and composition.
He formerly served as the director of the Queen"s School of Music. Burge"s compositions have been performed by numerous notable ensembles, including the British Broadcasting Corporation Singers, the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Hart House Chorus, the Nepean Symphony Orchestra, the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Gay Men"s Chorus, and the Michigan State University Children"s Choir.
His opera The Master"s House was commissioned by the Opera Lyra Ottawa and premiered by the organization in 1984. In 1986 the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral performed his So Great is God"s Love with Diana, Princess of Wales and Charles, Prince of Wales in attendance.
In 2004 his Clarinet Concerto was premiered by the Kingston Symphony.