Mary Akerman

Lecturer of Guitar, School of Music

Mary Akerman teaches classical guitar at Kennesaw State University. Her educational credits include Bachelor's (Cum Laude) and Master's degrees in Performance from the University of Georgia. She continued her performance studies at Florida State University where she was a graduate teaching assistant.

She was the recipient of Atlanta Music Club Scholarships and two scholarships for summer study in Spain with the Jose Tomas. Additionally, she was selected by audition to perform in a masterclass with Andres Segovia.

While at Florida State University, Mary Akerman won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America Competition and subsequently gave the first winner's tour. She also won first prize in the Casa de Espana of Puerto Rico competition and was a bronze medalist in the Radio France competition.

Mary Akerman is active as both a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Cobb Symphony, Gainesville Symphony, and Macon Symphony. She has performed on NPR's "Performance Today" and has recorded with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Festival Singers. She also concertizes frequently with duo partner guitarist Robert Teixeira.

She has performed, adjudicated, and taught at the following guitar festivals: Guitar Foundation of America, Southwestern Guitar Festival , East Carolina Summer Guitar Workshop, Festival de Guitarra in Paracho Mexico, and Festival Internacional de Guitarra del Noreste, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.

Since winning the Guitar Foundation of America Competition Mary Akerman has been an active supporter of that organization. She has been elected to three consecutive terms on their Board of Trustees.

Mary's Kennesaw graduates have been accepted to Master's and Doctoral programs in Performance at Peabody Conservatory, University of Texas at Austin, Florida State University, Shenandoah Conservatory, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Middle Tennessee State University.