SpringSing honors father’s memory
April 15, 2010 by ASHLEY STRICKLAND
Filed under Featured, Multimedia, Theater, Variety
Tonight, the power of a capella voices blending in intricate harmonies could lead to the discovery of a cure for cancer.
SpringSing 2010, the second annual a capella festival to benefit the American Cancer Society, is being held by the Team Burns Charitable Foundation at the Classic Center. It is all because of the effort of one University senior, his family, The Accidentals — the oldest all-male a capella group on campus — and the charitable organization he runs. SpringSing was born out of the desire to remember a life lost to cancer.
All it took was one weekend in Atlanta for Robert Burns’ life to change during his senior year of high school.
Student Robert Burns donates all proceeds of SpringSing to the American Cancer Society. Photo by: Ashley Strickland
Burns, his mother, sister and father were visiting for the weekend from their home in Philadelphia. Robert’s father, Ted Burns, experienced a brain hemorrhage during the trip and was forced to stay at Emory Hospital for two critical weeks.
He recovered and the Burns family moved to Monroe, Ga., so Robert could start his freshman year at college, beginning first at Morehouse College and then transferring to the University of Georgia.
But after a follow-up visit to see his doctor, Mr. Burns discovered he had advanced colon cancer. He was only given a short amount of time to live. Mr. Burns remained his usual self — optimistic and friendly to everyone he encountered. He spent his time with his family and strove to make strangers smile. It was his wish to share his life with others.
Only two months after his 50th birthday, Ted Satiek Burns died in August 2008. All of the people he had connected with came together in mourning with the remaining members of the Burns family, and soon a charitable foundation was started to keep his memory alive.
Team Burns started in Monroe as a “Relay for Life” group. During his illness, Ted Burns had frequented a local Blockbuster to enjoy his love of movies as well as connect with the employees. Robert started working there soon after, and when his father passed away, his fellow employees knew that Mr. Burns needed to be remembered in some way.
A small chapter in Monroe grew to include a student organization at the University, run by Robert and his mother, Leslie. Through different events, Team Burns started raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.
Robert immediately drew a connection between his two passions at the University, from working with Team Burns to his practices with The Accidentals. The simple idea for a benefit concert led to SpringSing: Voices United for a Cure.
Through the combined effort of the Monroe and University chapters of Team Burns, The Accidentals and the Burns family, SpringSing 2010 promises to raise expectations from last year’s festival.
SpringSing 2010 is made up of several events. Tonight is the main event, an a capella benefit concert featuring 11 of the nation’s best collegiate and professional groups.
Tomorrow, the same groups that perform in the concert will host workshops at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.
“There are so many good parts about SpringSing,” said Shane Fuhrman, musical director of The Accidentals and University graduate student. “It’s all about bringing people together on a grander scale that are all in love with music. That is our passion and we can benefit people from the gift we’ve been given.”
All of the proceeds from the festival go directly to the American Cancer Society.
Burns has been hard at work promoting the event since the fall semester started and his progress is beginning to show. There are more professional a capella groups attending SpringSing this year than last year, and it has attracted the attention of other collegiate a capella groups.
But perhaps the most rewarding part was receiving a tribute video to his father. AHMIR, tagged as “the #1 Most Popular R&B Group on Youtube,” produced a video in memory of Ted Burns.
They sang a Donny Hathaway classic, “A Song for You,” to remember Mr. Burns and promote the benefits of SpringSing. The song has special significance for the Burns family — it was a song Mr. Burns once sang to his wife when they were younger.
The video, only on Youtube since April 1, has received over 19,000 views.
When Robert, his mother and his sister, Myasia, wake up each day, they remember the love and joy that their father and husband brought with his life, and the quest he has inspired them to take.
“Working alongside Robert has been a wonderful surprise,” Leslie Burns said. “He thinks anything is possible and that’s how my husband was. We’re in this for the long term and it’s a blessing.”
Although Robert is about to graduate, he still has long-term goals for his organization. Robert said Team Burns will always be a part of his life and he will pursue his non-profit work until they discover a cure for cancer.
“At first, it was just for my dad, like a tribute to him, but now I see how big it can be,” Robert said. “I don’t want to stop it just where it was last year. I really think this could be one of the biggest events on campus. So this is what I do, and I enjoy it because I have the satisfaction of knowing the magnitude of what we’re doing.”
What: Spring Sing 2010: Voices United for a Cure Festival
When: 7 tonight
Where: The Classic Center
What: Spring Sing 2010: Voices United for a Cure
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: School of Music
More Information: http://springsing2010.com/silentauction/
Video Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHQ3NU3yk4
Price: $15 for benefit concert, $20 for workshop
