Belmont University School of Music
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 7:30 P.M. MCAFEE CONCERT HALL
Belmont University School of Music
presents Alumni Concert with W. Mark Akin
Belmont University Guitar Ensemble
Variaciones sobre una Tema de Sor, Op. 15
Trans. by Mark Switzer, W. Mark Akin
Belmont University Guitar Ensemble
Jesse Balkcom, Aidan McCarel, Tyler Ryan
Linda Coman, Aidan McCarel, Tyler Ryan
Calder Eaton, Linda Coman, Andres Montes, Weston Slavich
Logan Bachman, Aidan Bowser, Aidan McCarel, Weston Slavich
Special thanks to the stage crew for their assistance for tonight’s concert.
About the Performer
Award-winning classical guitarist W. Mark Akin is a St. Louis-based musician who has engaged audiences across the country with his dynamic on-stage presence and musicality. Akin has won prizes in numerous competitions such as the Wilson Center Guitar Competition in Wisconsin, Beethoven Club Competition in Memphis, the University of Arizona's Beeston Competition and Sholin Competition, and was a winner of the Artist Presentation Society of St Louis Competition. In June 2022, Mark Akin was a Featured Artist for the Missouri Arts Council. Originally from Tennessee, Akin started his guitar studies by learning to play electric hard rock, idolizing guitarists such as Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Eddie Van Halen. After discovering the classical guitar in high school, he then decided to study the instrument full-time and subsequently received the Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and the Master of Music in Performance (Instrumental) from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He has performed in master classes and taken lessons with some of the greatest guitarists in the world, namely Sérgio and Odair Assad, Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, and Jason Vieaux, Olivier Chassain, Marcin Dylla, and Adam Holzman. An active teacher, Mark has taught innumerable private lessons, is on
faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and has taught with St. Louis Classical Guitar’s “Guitar Horizons” education initiative. This program establishes guitar programs in inner city public schools and schools in the greater St. Louis area. Mark is also the music director of the St. Louis Classical Guitar Orchestra. You can hear Mark as the host of the weekly radio program “Inside Classical Guitar,” airing every Monday night at 7:00 p.m. (CDT) on Classic 107.3.
Mr. Akin is a former Belmont University student of Mr. Robert Thompson.
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Musical Theatre: “9 to 5”
Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2:00 p.m.
Fisher Center for the Performing Arts Reserve your tickets here
Join Belmont University’s College of Music and Performing Arts for Sounds of Belmont: The 36th Annual President’s Concert & Reception on Saturday, April 25th in the Fisher Center at Belmont University. Experience an evening of stories and songs to support our talented students. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a festive dessert reception for all guests and performers. The purchase of a ticket to this concert and reception will benefit endowed music and theatre scholarship funds for students in the college. Premier works from the College of Music and Performing Arts Fall 2025-Spring 2026 performance season will be showcased. This concert and reception is celebrating its thirty-sixth year (formerly the President’s Concert and Reception).
Reserve your tickets here. For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
