Two newly engaged alumni of the music program recently shared their love story following their on-campus marriage proposal this winter. Adam Benway ‘24 proposed to Sarah Burkart ‘23 on Jan. 27 in the FAIC Concert Hall. 

Benway explained that the Concert Hall was where he first laid eyes on Burkart and recalled to her during the proposal exactly where he was sitting in the audience when he heard her sing during a voice studio class. 

“I wanted to set up an interpersonal setting with just her and me since I didn't really want to propose in front of a big group of people,” said Benway. “I told her to dress up and I took her over to the Eastern campus. I pretended like I was going to get something from backstage, and when she turned around, I surprised her with a proposal.” 

According to the couple, the moment they realized they had feelings for each other was in the fall 2023 semester, when they sang a duet together for a vocal performance. 

“The song was ‘All I Ask of You’ from the musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’” said Burkart. “It was the first duet we ever did, and that was the moment where it clicked for us.” 

Apart from music, Burkart and Benway formed a solid foundation as friends with shared values before affirming their feelings. They had a consistent routine of talking between classes and playing pool together before choir. 

“I think it’s key to be friends with someone first before getting into a relationship,” said Benway. “I think the first time I felt a spark was when we first rehearsed for the duet; we met up in a practice room.”

“We ended up opening up about a lot of things then,” added Burkart. “I think that made our friendship go to the next level. From that point, we would always just spend time in the (FAIC foyer), and I would confide in him, and he always listened and supported me but was also honest with me.” 

Since graduating, the couple has done several performances together, including two fundraising events, while consistently supporting each other at individual gigs. 

“Adam comes to every rehearsal that I have with my band and handles the sound. I also attended his concert at his church for when he was raising funds to go on the global field course trip to Vienna last summer,” said Burkart.  

“When we get married in the fall, we may be singing ‘All I Ask of You’ as a tribute to the start of our relationship.” 

According to the couple, their friends and even music faculty had a hunch that they were going to end up together. “When I told [Lecturer David] Ballena that Sarah and I were dating, he was very blunt in saying ‘yep, could’ve called that,’” said Benway, adding that mutual friend Manuel De la Flor "teased me all the time about it, too.” 

“[Lecturer Rebecca] Calissi told me once, ‘you’re going to marry a music man’ referring to Adam,” Burkart added. “I texted her soon after the proposal and told her, ‘Guess what? You were right.’” 

“It still blows my mind how perfect Sarah is; everything about her is just that,” Benway concluded. “They say when you know, you know. And when I knew, I knew that I just wanted to marry her.”