Season of performances and reunions honors legacy of music education, celebrates the generations of musicians who have shaped its story
Belmont University's School of Music will celebrate its 75th anniversary this spring with a series of performances, alumni gatherings and special events honoring its history while looking ahead to the future of music education and performance.
The anniversary celebration includes a Chorale reunion weekend, a rock ensemble concert featuring legendary drummer Chester Thompson, Jazz Jam Night, a Bluegrass and Southbound showcase at Nashville's Station Inn and Sounds of Belmont: the 37th Annual President's Concert and Reception. Together, the events will bring alumni, students, faculty and friends back to campus to commemorate seven decades of musical excellence and community.
The anniversary events dovetail with the College of Music and Performing Arts' 2026-27 performance season, appropriately themed “Legacy.”
Music has been taught, created and performed on Belmont's campus since the early 1900s. In 1951, faculty and students from Belmont College formally established the School of Music, building on a longstanding belief that music has the power to form character, build community and carry meaning across generations.
Today, the School of Music has grown into one of the nation’s leading music schools, recognized for its commitment to artistic excellence, innovation and student-centered education. Its graduates perform on stages around the world, teach in classrooms and communities, serve in churches and arts organizations, and help shape the future of the music industry.
"Seventy-five years of music at Belmont is ultimately a story of people," said Dr. Stephen Eaves, dean of Belmont's College of Music and Performing Arts. "It is a story of students discovering their gifts, faculty investing in generations of mentoring musicians, and alumni whose impact extends far beyond our campus. As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the legacy that has brought us here while creating new opportunities for today's students to learn, perform and carry that tradition forward. This year we honor the legacy and inspire the future."
While the anniversary celebrates a significant milestone, it also points toward Belmont's future. The School of Music continues to prepare students to lead and serve through music, advancing a tradition of excellence that has shaped generations of performers, educators, composers and industry professionals.
Anniversary Highlights
Highlights of Belmont's 75th anniversary celebration are available below, with more details forthcoming. Register for specific events on the anniversary webpage.
The Music of Frank Zappa, Genesis and Phil Collins
Featuring Rock and Commercial Guitar Ensembles with Rock Legend Chester Thompson
Feb. 9, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Fisher Center
An alumni meet-up will take place before the performance. More details coming soon.
Jazz Jam Night
March 3, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Massey Concert Hall
Bluegrass and Southbound at Station Inn
March 20, 2027 | Station Inn
Sounds of Belmont: 37th Annual President's Concert
April 24, 2027 | 6:30 p.m. | Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
This year's concert serves as a centerpiece of Chorale Reunion Weekend and the School of Music's 75th anniversary celebration.
Chorale Reunion Weekend
The weekend will bring together former Chorale members from across the decades for fellowship, performances and a celebration of Belmont's choral tradition. Activities include a campus tour, alumni lunch, rehearsal with the Belmont Chorale, the Alumni by Choice Awards ceremony and participation in Sounds of Belmont.
Learn More
View a Full Schedule of Anniversary Events