Bio

Dr. Mark A. Belfast, Jr. is an associate professor of music education and Chair of the School of Music at Southeastern University. He coordinates the music education degree program, teaches music education courses, and supervises student teachers. Dr. Belfast holds a PhD in music education from Florida State University, where he continues to serve as an assistant director of the FSU Summer Music Camps. He earned the degrees of Master of Education in music education and Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University. While attending Auburn, he performed with and served as business manager for the Auburn Knights Orchestra, an 18-piece big band established in 1930.

Dr. Belfast’s teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate music education courses, as well as directing public school instrumental music programs in Alabama and Georgia. His research interests include teacher effectiveness, music teacher curriculum and training, jazz pedagogy and performance, and music for special populations. Dr. Belfast has presented research and educational clinics in regional, national, and international venues, including the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference, NAfME Biennial Northwest Division Conference, Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference, and the International Society for Music Education (ISME) Special Music Education and Music Therapy Pre-Conference Seminar. The results of his research have appeared in the Florida Music Director, The Journal of the Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, and the NBA Journal. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Belfast serves on the board of the ISME Special Music Education and Music Therapy commission, he is the NAfME Collegiate advisor for the state of Florida, and he maintains an active agenda as a speaker, clinician and adjudicator.