Mark Salazar, B.M., Guitar Instructor

Mark, a San Antonio native, was introduced to the guitar by his cousin at the age of 15 and began his formal musical studies at 16. During this time, he received instruction from local flamenco guitarist Randy Cordero. When Mark turned 20, he made the life-changing decision to pursue music as a profession. He had diligently saved enough money to embark on a journey to Spain for an entire summer. There, he continued to hone his skills in flamenco guitar and the art of accompanying singers, learning from Lito Espinosa at the Taller Flamenco School.

In the fall of that same year, Mark enrolled at San Antonio College, where he had the privilege of studying under esteemed mentors such as Terry Muska, Tom Sprayberry, and Matthew O’Neill. After successfully earning his Associate’s Degree, Mark furthered his education at the University of North Texas (UNT). At UNT, he specialized in classical guitar under the tutelage of Tom Johnson and Dr. Bryan Burns. Additionally, he took up Jazz guitar as a secondary instrument under the guidance of Rich McClure. Mark also expanded his horizons internationally during the academic years of 2016 and 2017 by studying classical and flamenco guitar at the Conservatori Superior de Música Del Liceu in Barcelona, where he worked under Guillem Quer-Perez and Manuel Granados. In the spring of 2018, Mark proudly graduated from UNT with a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance.

Throughout his musical journey, Mark actively participated in various competitions, including the Lone Star Guitar Competition, Texas A&M Symposium, the 2019 Guitar Symposium, and the 4th Annual Mountain View College Guitar Competition, where he won.

Mark has dedicated the past 7 years to teaching, with 5 of those years spent at Coppell Conservatory. Beyond his academic and professional commitments, Mark’s interests include cycling, traveling, hiking, photography, and reading.