This spring, several middle and upper school fine arts students were invited to participate in performances that showcased their talent, creativity and diligence as musicians.

In February, three middle school orchestra students, Polly Everett (8), Aubrey Henson (8) and Will Koch (8), prepared and auditioned for the Junior Western Youth Orchestra (JWRO).  This is a regional youth ensemble for which advanced middle school musicians from around the western part of North Carolina are invited to audition. In April, Aubrey Henson was selected to represent our school and participate in the JWRO weekend clinic along with other musicians from various schools. The clinic consisted of hours of rehearsals and culminated in a beautiful performance. 

Mr. Eric Simpson, middle and upper school chorus teacher, joined two different groups of Charlotte Christian vocalists at special events this spring. Mr. Simpson shared their unique experiences at the 2026 North Carolina Middle School All-State Chorus and “A Capella Spring Sing” at Salem Academy:

"In March, five of our incredibly talented middle school students traveled to the Elberson Fine Arts Center at Salem College to participate in the 2026 North Carolina Middle School All-State Chorus. Roman Espinola (6), Dean Simpson (6), Lily Kate Beezhold (7), Maggie Noe (7) and Jewel Simpson (8) represented Charlotte Christian in the All-State Chorus. This whirlwind weekend of high-level music-making gave our students the unique opportunity to stand side-by-side and sing with hundreds of other passionate young musicians from across the state.

Each of the three specialized All-State choirs—consisting of 200 student singers each—was tasked with mastering five challenging, festival-style songs under the direction of an expert clinician. The demanding repertoire showcased all the fundamental elements of elite choral music from intricate phrasing to complex harmonies.

Our students rose to the occasion beautifully, working through intense rehearsals and culminating in a spectacular final performance. We are incredibly proud of their dedication, hard work and the beautiful artistry they displayed representing our school on the state stage."

Mr. Simpson shared, "In April, nine of talented vocalists traveled to Winston-Salem, NC, to participate in the 'A Cappella Spring Sing' at Salem Academy. This unique, high-energy event was a one-day singing workshop dedicated entirely to the art of four-part a cappella music and included a special focus on barbershop-style singing. While the event targeted high school students, it opened its doors to younger students as well, allowing our crew from grades 8 through 11 to dive into a day of rigorous instruction, vocal growth, and incredible music-making.

Our school was proudly represented by an outstanding group of students across multiple grade levels: Jewel Simpson (8), Clayton Taylor (9), Journey Tall (9), Mitchel Kotula (10), Sarah Welbrun (10), Ariana Wilson (10), Brooke Campbell (11), Kea Gillette (11) and Kendyl Meisel (11)."

"The experience was extra special for our school community," Mr. Simpson explained. "I had the distinct honor and privilege of serving on the workshop's teaching staff, getting to coach these incredible young musicians alongside other talented educators. The highlight of the day came during the evening Showcase Performance. Our small, dedicated group of students was given the massive honor of opening for the evening performance. From learning brand-new barbershop harmonies to commanding the stage as the opening act, our students represented our school with immense talent, professionalism, and passion."

We celebrate with these students, their teachers and their families and are grateful for their opportunities to perform alongside their peers, learn from experts and impact the culture for Christ through their talents.