Belmont's Music Composition Program Nurtures Creative Voices

From Rock Musician to Versatile Composer and Educator 

Associate Music Professor and Coordinator of Composition Studies Dr. Mark Volker's musical journey began as a rock musician, composing songs for his own band and others. This early experience — before earning degrees in music composition and classical guitar — laid the foundation for a diverse career that now enriches Belmont's Music Composition program.  

Volker's professional highlights include performances by the Nashville Ballet, two operas and numerous works for chamber ensembles and orchestras. His compositions often blend acoustic instruments with electronics, reflecting his varied background in classical guitar, electronic music and orchestral composition. 

"My experience has simply been that the most valuable thing artistically and professionally is to be as versatile as possible," Volker explained. “I've enjoyed having a successful career professionally, as a person who doesn't just do one of these things but does a lot of different kinds of things. So, while I'm really interested in composition first and foremost, I'm also very interested in and fulfilled by technology, performance, teaching and conducting.” 

This philosophy deeply informs his approach at Belmont, where he's taught since 2009. Volker emphasized the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing musical landscape. 

"The last 21 years have been things that I had to learn as I went along. But ideally, if you are as prepared as possible with a wide variety of knowledge, you can learn those things more easily," Volker explained.  

He likened his teaching approach to a liberal arts education, focusing on foundational principles rather than specific techniques that may become outdated.  

"It's sort of showing them the foundations on which all of these practices are built, so when they get out and they experience things that I never experienced before I finished school, they can actually continue to learn from it," he explained. 

This approach prepares students not just for the current music industry, but for whatever changes may come in their future careers. 

Belmont's Approach to Classical Composition 

Belmont's composition program is rooted in classical traditions and embraces contemporary approaches. This foundation provides students with the versatile skill set Volker finds so important, applicable to various musical styles and career paths.  

“What appealed to me at Belmont was that there were so many different styles of music, not just being performed, but being taught, and students were interested in studying a lot of these different styles,” Volker explained. “I felt like there was a lot for me to learn from interacting with people who were so active in these different areas. That has kind of guided the way that we run the program.” 

Volker explained all composition students must meet basic standards, such as writing a string quartet, choral piece, orchestral piece, etc. However, the program doesn't limit students to purely classical works.  

“We're more interested in the traditions that have been handed down to us from classical music and how we can apply those to various contemporary contexts," Volker emphasized. 

This approach allows students to explore a wide range of styles and techniques. "It's up to each student as to how much they want to explore this stylistic continuum," Volker noted.  

Hands On Learning 

The program offers a range of learning experiences to prepare students for current industry practices as well as future changes in the industry, including: 

• Private composition lessons 

• Composition seminars 

• New Music Ensemble 
  
  
• Specialized courses including orchestration, sound synthesis and advanced music analysis 

The New Music Ensemble, directed by Volker, is particularly valuable in offering students a platform to hear their compositions performed live. "We don't really think the pieces are ‘done’ until the students hear them performed and know what the result of their work really is," Volker emphasized. 

Why Choose Belmont for Music Composition? 

Belmont's composition program stands out in the landscape of music education. As Volker explained, "Most schools of music or conservatories fit into one of three boxes: those focused primarily on conventional classical repertoire, those centered on commercial styles, and rarely, those that attempt to combine the two." 

Belmont, however, is distinctive in its approach. "There's very few that combine the two in a way that shows not just equal respect, but even collaboration between the two," Volker noted.  

Unlike other schools where classical and commercial programs remain separate, Belmont fosters interaction and mutual respect between these styles. 

This integrative approach is particularly evident in the composition program. Students are exposed to a wide range of styles and techniques, allowing them to develop versatile skill sets applicable to various musical contexts. 

"We're mainly focused on helping students find their own voices and not necessarily just mimic what's already out there," Volker explained. 

Alumni have found success in film scoring, vocal composition, music libraries, academia and more. Examples include alumni like Cody Fry in the commercial field, Bethany Brinton and Chris Gentle in film scoring, Rachel Fogarty in vocal and orchestral composition and others pursuing graduate studies or working in music libraries.  

With its blend of artistic exploration, technical rigor and real-world application, Belmont's Music Composition program is keenly positioned to shape the next generation of innovative composers, ready for the ever-evolving music industry.