Making a difference
Resident driven to help others through love of music
There is no doubt that music can soothe the weary soul and ease the troubled mind and perhaps nobody knows that more than long-time Northside musician Keith Burton.
He says he understands the effect that music can have on people because he sees it first hand.
As a child growing up in North Sydney, Burton was surrounded by music. His dad, Raymond, was the bandmaster for the Salvation Army. By the age of seven, young Keith had mastered the art of the trumpet and he said some of his fondest memories involve singing and playing for the distinguished church band.
“Back then we would play several nights a week, especially during the holidays. People liked to hear us play and we were happy to perform for them.”
A career in the military afforded Burton the opportunity to share his love of music with people from coast to coast. He said while stationed away, he loved playing in church choirs and looked forward to Sundays when he could attend services on the base. He has long been an advocate for youth, and over the years has spent a great deal of time mentoring young people through his work with youth centres and junior choirs. He said he recognized early the importance of getting children involved in the community and felt a good way to do that was through music.
In the early 1990s, he took the initiative to introduce a youth centre at the military base where he was station in Borden, Ontario. He said he loved his work at the centre. He loved teaching children music and felt he was making a difference in the lives of others.
“Children are our greatest hope for the future so it is important that we give them every opportunity to be involved.”
Burton went on to establish the well respected and highly sought after contemporary Christian group Godsent. His vision was to bring together a group of young singers that would commit not only to the music, but to work for the betterment of the community as well.
“Being musical director for Godsent was one of the highlights of my career as a musician. Members of the group were asked often to perform for various church functions and fundraisers all over the island. It was a huge commitment on their part. It wasn’t uncommon for Godsent to perform 50 or more concerts a year. Rarely, if ever, did they refuse a request and the appearances were all on a volunteer basis.”
Burton has enjoyed a long and well respected career as a musician and has years of experience working as the music director for churches on the Northside and in Sydney. He currently leads the choir at St. Matthew Wesley United and said he couldn’t be happier.
“Things have been going great since I started at St. Matthew Wesley. Members are committed to the church and to helping out in the community and they are open to any ideas I have to make the music we play enjoyable for everyone.”
“When I took the position with St. Matthew Wesley, I hoped to one day start a youth choir. Fortunately, my wife Francis and I, along with Sunday school teacher Maureen Murphy, were able to gather a group of children together. We now have an ensemble of young people directed by Francis, who perform for special occasions at the church.”
In 2011, during a showcase with Godsent at the East Coast Music Awards in Prince Edward Island, Burton said he had a sense that his life was about to change.
“I was walking on stage and began to trip, it was the first time I noticed it but it started to happen more often, so I went to my family doctor and was sent for tests. I was eventually diagnosed with a rare condition known as Primary Lateral Sclerosis.”
Burton said there has been a steady decline in his neurological functioning since the diagnosis. He said it has affected his ability to walk and most recently began to affect his speech. The condition is degenerative, but not life threatening and despite the diagnosis, Burton remains optimistic. He is grateful that PLS has not affected his ability to play the piano.
“It is a blessing really, this illness could have made it impossible for me to play, but I still play every day.”
Burton also composes and arranges music and he said he is thankful that he is able to continue that work as well.
Over the years, Burton has been involved in countless fundraisers. His volunteer work with Godsent as well as with other church groups has allowed him to use his talent to help raise thousands of dollars in support of churches and community organizations all over Cape Breton.
In 1992, Burton was recognized for his work with children, receiving the Queen’s 125th Commemorative Medal for Community Service. The medal honors Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens and to their community. Twenty-five years later, it remains one of his greatest achievements.