When you grow up in the halls of Charlotte Choir School, music becomes more than something you do — it becomes part of who you are. For siblings Robert and Esther Burlington, that truth rings clear and strong. From their first rehearsals at St. Peter’s to tours across the Country, their voices have woven through the legacy of the Choir School and into their own unique paths in life.

‍

A Family in Tune

Music runs deep in the Burlington home. Both parents built careers in the arts, so when the family moved from Atlanta to Charlotte, it was only natural that Robert found his way into the Choir School. “When we moved to Charlotte when I was nine, Dad enrolled me in Charlotte Choir School,” he recalls. “We also became members at St. Peter’s, which made the whole process very smooth and I was able to get comfortable with the space easily.”

A year later, Esther joined her big brother. Her audition was memorable — and very eight-year-old. “I auditioned with Mr. Outen and I remember singing My Country ’Tis of Thee. I don’t remember being very nervous, but I was excited to sing!”

From that moment on, the Burlingtons became part of a musical family that would carry them through childhood and into young adulthood.

‍

Unforgettable Moments

Over the years, Esther collected a kaleidoscope of memories — from adventures on tour to inside jokes that became tradition. “There are SO many,” she says. “Singing at the Chapter House in Wells, ‘one cookie and one cup of punch,’ being in Ms. Lenti’s tour group for a few years in a row, singing Ešenvalds Stars and playing my glass at the same time, getting drenched at Niagara Falls, singing Light of a Clear Blue Morning in the NC heat at Carowinds — just to name a few.”

‍

‍

Her favorite, though, was the day her choir sang in the Chapter House at Wells Cathedral. “I still get chills when I think about the music we made that day,” she says. “It wasn’t even a formal performance, but I remember we drew a crowd of tourists. I was so excited that people wanted to share that experience with us and that we got to share our music with them.”

Robert’s memories are just as vivid — full of laughter, friendship, and awe. He remembers the thrill of tour announcements, Christmas concerts, and residencies that felt larger than life. “Riding my first rollercoaster with two of my best friends,” he says, “and getting to rehearse in a room they had filmed Harry Potter in — the acoustics were unbelievable.”

‍

‍

One moment, though, stands out as pure Choir School magic. During a thunderstorm rehearsal, a perfectly timed crack of thunder silenced the room. “Mr. Outen had just said, ‘Everyone must be silent,’” Robert remembers, “and at that VERY moment, a huge crack of thunder shook the sanctuary. Everyone was shocked, and then broke out in laughter — even Mr. Outen. He took a moment, smiled, and said, ‘That was God.’”

‍

Lessons in Music and in Life

When asked what they loved most about being Choir School choristers, both answered similarly: the people, the excellence, the music that demanded their very best.

“I loved being able to sing at such a high level with people my age,” Esther says. “Sharing the love of sacred, and musically challenging music was something that I couldn’t get from my friends at school. Going to choir was like an escape from all my other stressful high school obligations.”

Robert echoes that sense of purpose and camaraderie. “Getting to be a part of a group who all deeply cared about making great music was special,” he says. “It gave me patience, determination, and taught me that even when something seems perfect, it can be improved.”

For both, the Choir School experience stretched far beyond music. Esther says, “The biggest way that CCS impacted me is that it made me fall in love with making music. I became so excited each week to go to rehearsal and not just sing, but focus on the musicality and sound of each piece.”

‍

The Music Lives On — and the Legacy Grows

Even after graduation, music continues to play a major role in Robert and Esther’s lives. Esther, now a student at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, leads her campus a cappella group. Robert, who now lives in Boone, North Carolina, works as a Broadcast Operations Intern for Appalachian State Athletics. Though his day-to-day isn’t musical, the lessons of the Choir School are never far away. Teamwork, preparation, and pride in excellence still shape his approach to every project.

Both offer words of encouragement for the next generation of choristers. “I hope that choristers realize that singing at such a high level and being part of a group like this is so unique,” Esther says. “I don’t know many teenagers outside of the Choir School who can sightread a psalm.”

Robert adds, “Don’t forget to study your words! And always cherish the rehearsals you get to spend with your friends.”

‍

‍

‍Voices Raised.
Through shared memories, laughter, and a lifelong love of song, Robert and Esther’s story reminds us that the Charlotte Choir School experience never really ends — it simply grows, one generation of choristers inspiring the next.