John Burke 1951 - 2020

R Wilkins and John

This photo was taken following ENSEMBLE VIVANT's sold-out concert LATIN ROMANCE at HUGH’s ROOM LIVE on Friday, December 6, 2019.
L to R: Rick Wilkins, C.M., composer, arranger, jazz musician; John Burke, composer, arranger
Photo by Marion Voysey
Pianist Catherine Wilson gave the world premiere performance of John Burke’s composition La Despedida that evening, with John Burke in attendance. This was the last concert John attended before his passing a few weeks later. Significantly, La Despedida means The Farewell.
Rick Wilkins and John Burke had tremendous admiration for each other. Both have been interconnected with Catherine Wilson and Ensemble Vivant’s music-making for over 30 years, and both are close, dear friends of Catherine’s.

Ensemble Vivant

This photo was taken following ENSEMBLE VIVANT's sold-out concert LATIN ROMANCE at HUGH’s ROOM LIVE on Friday, December 6, 2019.
L to R: Jim Welter (Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.); Rick Wilkins, C.M.; Geoff Houghton (Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.);
Ensemble Vivant: George Koller, bass; Catherine Wilson, piano/artistic director; Tom Mueller, cello; Corey Gemmell, violin; Norman Hathaway, viola;
John Burke, composer
Photo by Marion Voysey
Pianist Catherine Wilson gave the world premiere performance of John Burke’s composition La Despedida that evening, with John Burke in attendance. This was the last concert John attended before his passing a few weeks later. Significantly, La Despedida means The Farewell.

Three dining

Norman Hathaway, John Burke and Catherine Wilson
July 23, 2019
Tabule Restaurant on Queen St. E., Toronto ON
John had never been to this restaurant and he had been anxious to try it out. He just loved the cuisine and had hoped to go there often.
The 3 of us had a great evening together, one of so many over the many years of our close friendship.