AURORA | The Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora has been nationally recognized for its early innovative achievements in arts education, earning the 2025 New and Emerging School Award from the Arts Schools Network, school officials announced this week.
The award is presented annually by Arts Schools Network, the largest professional membership organization for specialized arts schools. It honors new institutions within their first three years of development.
Burrell Arts will receive the award at an ASN annual conference in October in Florida, APS officials said.
“This recognition is a testament to the creativity, passion and hard work of our students, staff and community,” said Burrell Arts High School Principal Kurtis Quig. “It’s just the beginning of something truly transformative in arts education.”
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.
The school was named for Charles “Charlie” Burrell, an African American bassist who broke racial barriers in major symphony orchestras. 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.
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.”
Burrell Arts integrates arts into daily academic learning and provides students with opportunities to explore music, dance, theater, visual arts and cultural experiences across the metro area.
ASN officials said the Burrell Arts school is an important institution.
“Our organization offers guidance, inspiration, and incentives to arts schools and their leaders who strive for excellence,” said Dr. R. Scott Allen, managing director of ASN. “When they demonstrate outstanding efforts toward this goal, we recognize and reward their achievements.”
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 last October.
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.
Burrell said the honor was something he never would have expected in his lifetime.
“This will be the shortest speech you’ve ever heard,” he said during a meeting where the school name honoring him was announced in 2022. “I would like to say after Duke Ellington, the famous man of our time: it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”