Classical Guitar Teacher Listing
A listing of local, private teachers who offer classical or flamenco guitar lessons in St. Louis.
Disclaimer: St. Louis Classical Guitar does not endorse any particular teacher listed. This is a public page to help provide information for both local students and teachers.
Please fill out the form below if you are interested in being included in our public local list of teachers:
Guitar Teacher Directory:
Name: W. Mark Akin
Email: wmarkguitar@gmail.com
Short Teacher Bio: 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.
Mark 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 was a Featured Artist for the Missouri Arts Council.
Originally from Tennessee Mark 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 his bachelor's and master's degrees in guitar performance from Belmont University in Nashville, and the University of Arizona in Tucson. He has performed in master classes and taken lessons with some of the greatest guitarists in the world, namely Sergio 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, and also teaches 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 guitar orchestra.
You can hear Mark as the host of the weekly radio program “Inside Classical Guitar,” airing every Monday night at 8:00 PM on Classic 107.3.
Teacher Offerings: Classical Guitar, Children, Adults
Name: Childbloom Guitar Program
Email: chrischildbloom@gmail.com
Short Teacher Bio: Since 1994 Childbloom has been offering lessons to children in the metro St. Louis area. We specialize in inspiring families with children ages 5 and up to discover the joy of music through the guitar. We provide engaging lessons that grow skill, artistry, success, and a lasting passion for music. We offer lessons in Kirkwood and St. Peters. Our staff comprises Director Chris Peleshenko, Alyssa Catlin, Carol Eder, and Paula Glaser have a combined experience of over 50 years of teaching kids and adapting the Childbloom curriculum to their specific needs. For more information visit stcharlescounty.childbloom.com
Teacher Offerings: Classical Guitar, Children
Name: Carol Eder
Email: carolb.eder@gmail.com
Short Teacher Bio: Carol is a Classical/Jazz Guitar performer and educator. Her love for guitar began in childhood and has led her to a teaching and performance career. Carol studied Classical Guitar at Webster University and graduated from Alfred University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She has been teaching guitar since 2004. As a teen, she studied Classical Guitar with Alan Rosenkoetter and performed in masterclasses with Michael Lorimer, Eliot Fisk, and Manuel Barrueco.; Later as an adult, Carol studied Jazz Guitar with Corey Christiansen, Tom Byrne, Chip Katz, and Frank Vignola.She performed with the Mid America Guitar Festival in 1993 and St. Louis Community Music School Classical Guitar Orchestra through 1998 Her jazz guitar performances and recordings include The Midwest Jazztette, vocalists, Mae Wheeler, Ali Hager, Flutist Erika May Randolph, and Guitarist Chip Katz. She performs throughout the greater St. Louis area as a Soloist and with Jazz Combos at private and public events. In 2016 she joined the Childbloom Program of St. Charles County;where she is presently a faculty member.Prior to her present teaching positions, she taught guitar at the St. Louis Community Colleges, The Mid America Guitar Camp, and Fazio Music. She and her partner Tom Byrne formed Duo Clássico in 2024. https://youtube.com/@duoclassico-2gtrs?si=rmveWLKozVKACp_N
Teacher Offerings: Classical Guitar, Children, Adults