Students at the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora held a birthday party for their school’s namesake, Charles Burrell, who turned 103 years old OCt. 4, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OF AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Students at the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora held a birthday party for their school’s namesake, Charles Burrell, who turned 103 years old OCt. 4, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OF AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Students at the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora held a birthday party for their school’s namesake, Charles Burrell, who turned 103 years old OCt. 4, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OF AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Students at the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora held a birthday party for their school’s namesake, Charles Burrell, who turned 103 years old OCt. 4, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OF AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Students at the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora held a birthday party for their school’s namesake, Charles Burrell, who turned 103 years old OCt. 4, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OF AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AURORA | Denver music legend and Aurora school of the arts namesake Charles Burrell died Tuesday. He was 104.
Burrell became one of the first people of color to perform in a major symphony orchestra when he joined the Colorado Symphony (then the Denver Symphony Orchestra) in 1949. He has been described as the “Jackie Robinson of the classical world” and performed with jazz legends including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker throughout his career.
Burrell retired in 1999 and celebrated his 103rd birthday in 2023 with Aurora Public Schools students.
The lifelong musician is the namesake for The Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora.
Launched in 2022 by Aurora Public Schools, the K–12 magnet school is the district’s first arts-focused campus and one of the only schools of its kind in Colorado, according to APS spokesperson Corey Christiansen. Known locally as “Burrell Arts,” it operates in two buildings, including a dedicated high school space inside Aurora Central High School.
READ MORE ABOUT CHARLES BURRELL AT CPR.ORG
The school was named for “Charlie,” who received a standing ovation in 2021 when the school’s name was announced. The school’s mission is to expand access to arts education for Aurora’s diverse student population. APS serves approximately 38,000 students who hail from more than 130 countries and speak more than 160 languages at home. Many APS students lack access to private art or music instruction.
The Burrell school was nationally recognized last month for its innovations, earning the 2025 New and Emerging School Award from the Arts Schools Network.
Burrell Arts High School Principal Kurtis Quig said the campus draws inspiration from its namesake.
“As a K–12 school we are inspired by Mr. Charles Burrell as he helped support us in setting the vision for our students that they truly can be whatever they want to be — just like him.”
During a previous APS presentation about the school, Stephen Brackett, a member of the band Flobots, spoke about how influential Burrell has been for Black musicians. Brackett said the musical opportunities he grew up with in Denver would not have been possible if not for Burrell.
“I do not think there could be a possible name greater than that of Mr. Charlie Burrell to be on one of our buildings,” he said.