Burns, whose tenure begins on opening night of the 2006-07 season, said that in her guest-conducting appearances, "I thoroughly enjoyed working with the orchestra and was impressed with the level of music making, potential and desire to improve. I felt an easy rapport with the musicians as well as the board, knowing we would make a great team, working together to mold the TSO into a world-class ensemble."

Burns holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in violin performance, but an injury cut her orchestral career short and she turned to conducting. She has studied at the Mannes College of Music, the Aspen Music Festival and the Yale School of Music, with Semyon Bychkov, among others.

Former New York Philharmonic music director Kurt Masur invited her to audition for a cover conductor position with the orchestra, which she has held since 1999. Current music director Lorin Maazel invited her to join the orchestra on tour to the Far East as the tour assistant conductor.

Burns has guest-conducted the Bournemouth Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, and the Syracuse Symphony.

The Tallahassee Symphony's search for a music director began two and a half years ago. Burns was selected from a pool of two hundred applicants.