On March 17, the Lexington High School choral program participated in “BIG SING,” an event featuring acclaimed British conductor and composer James Burton. Burton’s notable roles include conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra of Tanglewood, directing the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and recently being named Artist Director Designate of Ex Cathedra for 2026.
The BIG SING involved multiple groups, including the honors choirs—Chamber, Concert, and Madrigal Singers—rehearsing with Burton to improve their musical skills and repertoire. The event was a new addition to the LHS choral program, with the intention of attracting local musicians and the general public. Other adults were able to participate alongside the choirs.
Approximately 100 to 120 students from the honors choral programs attended, having done extensive preparation since their last performance in December. For many students in the honors choral program, BIG SING served as a valuable learning experience and a major showcase for the year.
“It’s a really great event to sing with multiple singers who are passionate, and it’s also a good way to sing with your own choir and your own professor,” Aayushi Bhagwat, a senior and member of the Chamber choir, said. “You are still using the same techniques that you know, but [Burton will] have a new take on the same techniques or just ways to feel the music.”
With the preparations came challenges. Sanai Jabbarzadeh Tabrizi, a freshman in the Chamber choir, described the joyful moments that came with shared struggles.
“Laughing at our mistakes instead of beating ourselves down […] it brings us closer each time,” Tabrizi said.
Tabrizi mentioned how Burton helped guide the choir through struggles and learnings.
“You get to feel proud of each other as well as yourself when all this hard work pays off […] We know the struggle will be much more worth [it],” Tabrizi said.
The honors choir students had a similar event in Boston alongside musicians and other high school students from different towns. Having adults be able to participate in this event offered a unique experience.
“[The adults who are participating] have more experience than us, and they’ve done many other musical ensembles in the past,” Calla Filstrup, a junior and member of the Chamber choir, said. “[It was] cool for them to bring their skills, and it’s always just a great experience when you’re able to sing with a bunch of other people.”
Students were excited to have a valuable learning experience at the event. For Bhagwat, working with new people brings new perspectives, and she believes their time with Burton was crucial to their growth.
“He’s a very excellent musician, very skilled, and he has a lot of experience too, working with high-level audiences and singers,” Bhagwat said.
Students’ hard work and dedication to welcoming Burton highlighted the impact of BIG SING as a unifying moment for the LHS choral community.
“We really want[ed] to make sure his time [was] well spent and that this [would] all go smoothly and we [would] have a lot of fun,” Tabrizi said. “We’re really focused on having fun while he’s here.”
