Aaron and Charlotte Jackson (2021) serve the church and world through their gifts of music

Aaron and Charlotte (Lines) Jackson graduated in May 2021. They met through Concordia University, Nebraska’s music program. Aaron graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Church Music (Organ) with a Director of Parish Music Diploma. Charlotte earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music- Performance Emphasis (Piano) and a Bachelor of Music in K-12 Instrumental Music Education with a Vocal Endorsement.

Both Aaron and Charlotte found their way to Concordia despite their initial intentions. Aaron had planned to attend another university closer to his hometown of Palestine, Texas. After applying to that university, he applied to Concordia as a secondary choice at the advising of several people. 

Charlotte had not planned on leaving her home state of Missouri for college. However, her family encouraged her to visit Concordia after they received several mailers from the university. She fell in love with Concordia almost immediately. “[I] had a feeling of ‘this is where I need to be’.”

After an audition process during their senior years of high school, both Charlotte and Aaron were awarded a full-tuition music scholarship to Concordia. This was the first year that this opportunity was available to students. It continues to be offered yearly to one high school senior intending to major in music.

Once on campus, both Aaron and Charlotte found a community that felt like home. Both said that their favorite part of their Concordia experience was the people that they interacted with. 

“Every person I made contact with at Concordia genuinely wanted to see me succeed and grow,” Charlotte said. “My friends, professors and peers were all fully invested in my education and spiritual life. Because of that, I wanted to do the same for them.”

Aaron also felt the genuine support and became a tutor for music theory to help give back that support. “I wanted to give back and assist people like others did for me.”

Aaron and Charlotte said similar things about their experience with Concordia professors as well as with their peers. 

“[My professors] were incredibly personable and approachable, and I felt like I could ask them about anything. We’ve even had discussions well after my graduation! The faculty at Concordia truly go above and beyond in their calling as educators in the church,” Aaron said. 

Charlotte cited her change of major as a specific example where her professors helped her to feel valued as she figured out her future. She started as a music major and a secondary English education major. As her freshman year progressed, she realized that she found more joy working through music than anything else. Her advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo, helped her work through the change. “She also made sure to make me feel like a valued student trying to navigate my future. My professors in the English department were just as caring and compassionate. They encouraged me to follow where I felt called even if it meant leaving my English major.”

The work of their professors made sure that Charlotte and Aaron were well prepared for their careers after graduation. 

Charlotte noted that her music education degree and the experiences she gained during her time earning it transfers into almost everything she does now. 

“Concordia also prepared me to stay busy and share music with as many people as possible. The frenzy of Christmas at Concordia or A Cappella Choir tours more than prepared me for my life now, but they also taught me that my true joy lies with knowing Jesus and sharing it with others.”

Aaron stated that although he did not spend a semester student teaching, he still had the opportunity to teach to younger students at Concordia and implement techniques he was learning. His professors also taught him skills like time management and organization that transfer to areas of his life beyond music. 

“Even after graduation, I can still talk with my professors if I have any questions,” he said. “After being in my current position for two years, I feel like there has been very little, if anything, that I’ve had to figure out on my own. The high quality of education I received at Concordia is something I still see in my life today.”

Aaron and Charlotte were married in July of 2021 following their graduation in May. At this time, many churches were still struggling with the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which occurred the year prior. Because of this, there were far fewer Director of Parish Music (DPM) positions in the LCMS available to Aaron than what previous DPM graduates had experienced. Due to this, he decided to pursue another interest of his – pipe organ building and maintenance. 

They moved to Houston, Texas, after their wedding where Aaron worked as a technician for an organ company and part time at Messiah Lutheran Church as the music director. During this time, Charlotte was accepted into the University of Houston graduate program, where she earned her Masters in Piano Performance and Pedagogy and worked as a graduate assistant teaching group piano classes to undergraduate music students. During her studies, Charlotte also worked at the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church’s School of Fine Arts where she ran a small private piano studio. 

As they neared Charlotte’s graduation, both of them decided that living in a large city was not for them. With more time having lapsed since the pandemic, more churches were looking for DPM’s at that point, so Aaron once again pursued a call. He interviewed at and was considering a position at a congregation that seemed like it could be perfect, but the position fell through. Shortly after Aaron received a Facebook message from the pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Their congregation had been attempting to call a DPM for several months, but a glitch in the system prevented the position description from being sent through the appropriate channels. Shortly after he received the message, Aaron and the pastor had a long phone conversation, and Aaron then traveled to Arkansas for an interview. He accepted the call to Redeemer in July of 2023. 

“Concordia also prepared me to stay busy and share music with as many people as possible. The frenzy of Christmas at Concordia or A Cappella choir tours more than prepared me for my life now, but they also taught me that my true joy lies with knowing Jesus and sharing it with others.”

Once they had moved, Charlotte began working as a substitute teacher in the area. Both Aaron and Charlotte joined the symphony in the area as well. In April of 2024, Charlotte interviewed and was offered a position at Norfork School District as the sole K-12 music teacher. 

She started this position in August of 2024. The school is small with a total enrollment of about 475 students. Norfork is split into the elementary (K-6) and high school (7-12), with the buildings right across the street from each other. In the mornings, Charlotte teaches band, choir and a 7^th/8^th grade quarterly music appreciation class. In the afternoons, she teaches at the elementary school and sees all K-6 classes on a rotation.

“When I started last year, my band had nine students and my choir had one student,” she said. “At the end of the school year, I was able to do some recruitment for band and choir the following year. When I left in May, I had 21 students who were wanting to join band, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic! I know I have several students who are wanting to join choir as well (especially after I was able to take some students to watch the Concordia Nebraska Vocal Jazz Choir in Mountain Home!)”

Aaron serves as the main organist at Redeemer in rotation with other musicians and in addition to directing the choir and handbell ensembles. He also runs a youth-oriented handbell ensemble that doubles as a Bible study.

“Shortly into the fall of my first year, I realized that our Sunday school program only went to 6^th grade and there were no study or fellowship opportunities for our older youth and young adults on Sunday mornings. I shared an idea I had with my pastor to create a youth-oriented handbell ensemble that doubled as a Bible study. This was well received, and I soon had about seven people in the group,” he explained. 

Most students in the group did not have any musical experience, so Aaron focused on teaching them the basics of music and handbell ringing while also discussing and learning about hymns that the students suggested. The group will also occasionally ring for worship services throughout the year.

Aaron is very pleased with the program, saying, “This program has had lots of success, both from a musical perspective and a conversational/theological standpoint. These kids ask great questions and are genuinely interested in our hymnody and liturgy! While you can’t always get teenagers and young adults to sing, you can get them to ring!”

Aaron has also started additional vocal and instrumental groups at Redeemer that use their talents in worship in rotation with the regular vocal and handbell choirs. Most recently, he has started teaching music at the end of the younger Sunday school classes in addition to the youth handbells. He is also working on a long-term project involving the design and installation of a pipe organ to replace the congregation’s aging digital organ. 

Both Charlotte and Aaron find fulfillment in seeing others find joy in music. Charlotte especially loves when her students find that joy. 

“It feels really great to see a class of third graders giggling over a dance they learned and can sing along with, or a 6^th grade boy stunning his peers and teachers with his voice, or when a sophomore trumpeter grows leaps and bounds in one year. Having those moments reminds me of why I followed this calling to begin with, and I thank God for allowing me to savor those moments.”

Aaron shared a similar perspective, saying, “All of the music we sing, ring or play in church is done to give glory to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria). He alone gives us these gifts and talent, so it is only fitting that we use them to worship Him. Teaching and reminding our musicians of this and seeing it in practice in our music is one of the most fulfilling parts of my work.”

Aaron’s parents are both life-long LCMS Lutherans who grew up in Houston, Texas. His mom was a teacher for her entire career, specializing in ESL and elementary students with dyslexia. His dad was a career firefighter for the city of Palestine, Texas. Both were very active in their home church during Aaron’s childhood. His dad was the choir director, an elder and president of the congregation. His mom was the Director of Education in charge of Sunday school and a member of the choir. While both of his parents are retired currently, his dad is part of the Spanish Ministry Pastor program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, working towards becoming the pastor of a small congregation near his hometown. He has two siblings, a brother and a half-sister. His brother, Matthew, works as a ranch hand for a congregation member. His sister, Caryn, works as an investigator for the children’s division of Missouri’s Department of Social Services. 

Both of Charlotte’s parents are retired music teachers. Her mom was the 5-8 grade general music teacher and choir director for Bueker Middle School in Marshall, Missouri, when she retired in 2017. She currently runs a home piano studio of about 30 students. Her dad was the 5-12 grade orchestra director at the middle and high school as well as the assistant high school band director when he retired in 2012. Both of Charlotte’s parents played a large role in shaping the community ensembles in Marshall and continue to do so. Marshall is the home of the Marshall Municipal Band and the Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra. The Municipal Band is one of the oldest tax-supported bands in the state of Missouri and was formed in 1921. They play between 15-20 concerts every summer. Charlotte’s mom has played clarinet in the band every summer since she was in high school. Her dad began playing with the band in 1990 and has been the director since 2001. The Philharmonic Orchestra is entering its 62^nd season this fall. They hold four concerts during the school year and showcase various guest soloists at each concert. Her dad also directs the Philharmonic, and her mom plays clarinet. Both of her parents are active in their home congregation, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshall, with her mom directing the vocal choir and her dad directing the handbell choir. She has one older brother, Dalton, who enjoys music but does not take part in a full-time music career. 

Charlotte and Aaron have been married for four years. “Music is our livelihood,” Charlotte said. “As much as we need each other, we also need our music. It’s an integral part of our lives.”

Concordia University, Nebraska’s music programs offer rigorous preparation to glorify God in your future vocations through the study and performance of music. Through applied lessons, participation in one or more of our outstanding ensembles or academic music pursuits, hundreds of students of any major can make great music and lifelong friendships at Concordia. Learn more about music at Concordia here.