Charles Burrell celebrates his 103rd birthday with students at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
About 500 students sing happy birthday to Charles Burrell, front, for his 103rd birthday at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
A birthday card from about 500 students signed for Charles Burrell. Burrell celebrated his 103rd birthday with students at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
A picture of Charles Burrell as a younger man hangs on the wall of the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Charles Burrell celebrates his 103rd birthday with students at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Students perform a dance in celebration of Charles Burrell’s 103rd birthday at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Charles Burrell watches students sing during a celebration for his 103rd birthday at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Burrell is a ball player who broke the color barrier for classical musicians. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Charles Burrell holds birthday card from his great grand daughter Isla, 5. Charles Burrell celebrated his 103rd birthday with students at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Charles Burrell, front center, celebrates his 103rd birthday with his great grand children, Lincoln Burrell, 8, left, and Isla Burrell, 5, right, and about 500 students at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
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Charles Burrell celebrates his 103rd birthday with students at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, the school named after him, in Aurora on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Burrell is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
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By Hyoung Chang | hchang@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Students at the held a birthday celebration for Charles Burrell, the school’s namesake, in Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Burrell, who turned 103 years old on Wednesday, is a bass player who broke the color barrier as a classical musician. According to the school’s website,
