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Published on October 16, 2025

A duet for life: Adam Benway ’24 and Sarah Burkart ’24 get engaged on stage

Adam Benway and Sarah Burkart
Adam Benway '24 and Sarah Burkart '26

Two alumni of Eastern’s music program recently turned their shared passion into a lifelong duet. Adam Benway ’24 proposed to Sarah Burkart ’24 this past January in the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC) Concert Hall — the same space where Benway first heard Burkart sing. “I remembered exactly where I was sitting when I first heard Sarah in voice studio class,” said Benway.

Wanting a sentimental proposal setting, Benway invited Burkart to campus, suggested she dress up for the occasion, and surprised her with a proposal on the stage of the Concert Hall after pretending to retrieve something backstage.

Their relationship began with a duet in fall 2023, when they performed “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera. “That was the moment where it clicked for us,” said Burkart.

Before romance blossomed, the two built a solid friendship. “We’d talk between classes and play pool before choir,” said Benway. “The first time I felt a spark was rehearsing that duet in a practice room.”

Burkart added, “We opened up about a lot during those rehearsals. That deepened our friendship. From then on, we’d spend time in the FAIC foyer. Adam listened, supported me, and was always honest.”

Since graduating, the couple has continued performing together, including at two fundraising events. “Adam comes to every one of my band’s rehearsals and runs sound,” said Burkart. “When we get married, we might sing ‘All I Ask of You’ as a tribute to the start of our relationship,” she added.

Their romance came as no surprise to members of the music program. “When I told [Lecturer David] Ballena we were dating, he said, ‘Yep, could’ve called that,’” recalled Benway.

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

Benway summed up their love story simply: “They say when you know, you know. And when I knew, I knew I wanted to marry her.”

Written by Elisabeth Craig ’26