St. Louis Classical Guitar

What St. Louis Classical Guitar does

St. Louis Classical Guitar (SLCG) is a St. Louis, Missouri-based 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization founded in 1963 by students of George C. Krick. It is the third oldest classical guitar organization in the United States and operates a portfolio of programs including the Guitar Masters Concert Series, the Guitar Horizons in-school education program (serving 25 school sites across Ferguson-Florissant, North County, and St. Louis City Public Schools), the weekly Inside Classical Guitar radio show on Classic 107.3 FM and WSIU 91.9 FM (over 400 episodes since May 2013), a 25-person community Guitar Orchestra, the Gateway Guitar Quartet, master classes, an annual Guitar Festival, the Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant for Midwest students ages 16-23, the Make Your MARC recovery program with Hope Creates, and an Open Stage performance series. The organization is led by Executive Director Brian Vaccaro (appointed January 2022) and broadcasts from a 1-10 person team.

The core technology and operating model is a hybrid live-events + community-media + in-school education stack: concerts are produced at three partner venues (Ethical Society of St. Louis, Salem United Methodist Church, 560 Music Center) and ticketed through Thundertix; education is delivered by Teaching Artists co-teaching with classroom music teachers using curriculum resources developed jointly with Austin Classical Guitar; and the radio show is produced and hosted by W. Mark Akin, who also directs the Guitar Orchestra. The underlying 'platform' is community- and relationship-driven rather than technology-driven, with a Squarespace website and email newsletter as the primary digital surfaces.

SLCG's revenue model combines four streams: tiered annual membership fees ($25-$65 for Student, Individual, Couple, Family); single-ticket and season-subscription concert sales via Thundertix; tax-deductible donations across donor tiers (Fan $100+, Aficionado $250+, Performer $500+, Virtuoso $1,000+, Maestro $3,000+); and corporate/foundation sponsorships. Education programs are funded by grants and sponsors such as the Des Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative. Customer segments include adult concert-goers and members, K-12 students in underserved schools, professional and emerging classical guitarists, music teachers, and young grant-eligible guitarists. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

St. Louis Classical Guitar

Legal name

St. Louis Classical Guitar

Website

https://stlclassicalguitar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

St. Louis Classical Guitar is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization, founded in 1963 and the third oldest such entity in the U.S., that promotes classical guitar through concerts, in-school education across 25 St. Louis area sites, a weekly radio show, and community ensembles, funded by memberships, ticket sales, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Classical guitar performance
• Arts education programs
• Concert series production
• Community music programs
• Non-profit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues provide recurring revenue with tiered pricing for Individual ($35), Couple ($50), Family ($65), and Student ($25) levels. Members receive 20% discounts on concert tickets, discounts on merchandise, free master class admission, and other benefits.
2. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from single tickets and season subscriptions to the Guitar Masters Concert Series and other performance events.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Financial contributions from donors supporting education programs and general operations, including tribute donations in memory of legacy supporters.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from sponsors including Virtuoso ($1,000+), Maestro ($3,000+), Performer ($500+), Aficionado ($250+), and Fan ($100+) donor tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

St. Louis Classical Guitar is a non-profit arts organization that promotes classical guitar through three primary offerings: (1) the Guitar Masters Concert Series bringing world-class classical guitarists to St. Louis for intimate performances, (2) the Guitar Horizons school-based education program delivering guitar instruction to underserved schools, and (3) the Inside Classical Guitar weekly radio show. Supporting programs include community ensembles (Guitar Orchestra, Gateway Guitar Quartet), Master Classes, Open Stage performances, an annual Guitar Festival, the Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant, and the Make Your MARC healing-arts program.

Product overview

St. Louis Classical Guitar is a non-profit arts organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of classical guitar programs. The core offerings include the Guitar Masters Series (concert season), Inside Classical Guitar (radio show), and Guitar Horizons (education program). Supporting programs include the Guitar Orchestra, Gateway Guitar Quartet, Master Classes, Open Stage, Guitar Festival, and Teacher Directory. Special initiatives include the Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant for student musicians and the Make Your MARC community outreach program. The organization operates a membership program with tiered benefits and maintains a Legacy Tribute Page honoring deceased supporters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Guitar Masters Series: Concert series bringing world-class classical guitarists to St. Louis for intimate performances.
• Guitar Horizons
• Inside Classical Guitar
• Guitar Orchestra
• Gateway Guitar Quartet
• Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant
• Guitar Solo, Ensemble, and Sight-Reading Festival

Products and services

• Guitar Masters Series Flagship concert series bringing world-class classical guitarists to St. Louis for intimate performances at venues including the Ethical Society of St. Louis, Salem United Methodist Church, and the 560 Music Center. Each concert includes an opportunity to meet the artists. Tickets sold individually and as season subscriptions.
• Guitar Horizons School-based education program providing guitar instruction to schools in North County and St. Louis City, with Teaching Artists co-teaching with classroom music teachers, professional development for teachers, in-school artist residencies, and instrument provision.
• Inside Classical Guitar Weekly radio show hosted by W. Mark Akin, airing on Classic 107.3 FM (Monday 7-8PM CST) and WSIU 91.9 FM (Wednesday 8-9PM and Saturday 5-6AM), featuring classical guitar music and artist interviews.
• Guitar Orchestra 25-person community guitar orchestra under the direction of W. Mark Akin, performing music from Renaissance to contemporary periods, with bi-monthly rehearsals and several community performances per year.
• Gateway Guitar Quartet Local St. Louis guitar quartet consisting of Paul Kreter, Jeffrey Sieth, Stephen Rekas, and Bob Wooldridge, performing repertoire from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical periods and national music of Spain and Brazil, with regular residency at the Cheshire Inn.
• Master Classes Educational master classes accompanying the Guitar Masters Series, featuring guest artists teaching local guitar students. The 2026-2027 schedule includes sessions with Jack Hancher, Patterson/Sutton Duo, Raphael Feuillatre, Virgile Barthe, and Duo Noire.
• Open Stage Performance opportunity program where guitarists aged 7 and up can reserve up to 7 minutes to perform for a welcoming audience at Salem United Methodist Church, with events scheduled throughout the 2025-26 season.
• Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant Annual grant program providing concert-quality Keith Adams guitars to deserving classical guitar students ages 16-23 in the Midwest region (MO, KS, IL, IN, IA, MN, WI, MI, NE), with past recipients including Jakob Giles (2017), Russell Franklin (2023), and Daniel Bosci (2025).
• Make Your MARC Eight-week program for 10-15 youth/young adults in recovery or at risk for substance use disorder, providing multi-disciplinary healing arts experience in painting, drawing, music, drums, and storytelling, in partnership with Hope Creates and Augustine Strings.
• Guitar Festival Annual Guitar Solo, Ensemble, and Sight-Reading Festival for middle and high school guitar ensembles and soloists, providing performance goals and constructive feedback from adjudicators. The 2026 festival features Patrick Rafferty and Jesse Steele as adjudicators.
• Membership Program Annual membership program with tiers including Individual ($35/year), Couple ($50/year), Family ($65/year), and Student ($25/year), offering 20% concert ticket discounts, free master class admission, volunteer opportunities, and a free SLCG t-shirt and sticker.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guitar Horizons reaches 25 school programs with Teaching Artists
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Austin Classical GuitarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLCG has worked with Austin Classical Guitar for 9 years to provide comprehensive teacher training. Austin Classical Guitar's GuitarCurriculum.com developers lead the annual Teacher Training Seminar, providing specialized tracks for New Teachers, Veteran Teachers, and Elementary Teachers covering technique, pedagogy, conducting and advocacy.
• Des Lee Fine Arts Education CollaborativecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of the All-Metro Guitar Day concert, enabling the annual event to be held at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on UMSL's campus. Provides financial support for bringing together all Guitar Horizons students in a guitar orchestra performance.
• Hope CreatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLCG partners with Hope Creates to support the Make Your MARC (Music. Art. Recovery. Connection.) program for youth/young adults in recovery or at risk for substance use disorder. SLCG provides a teaching artist for guitar instruction and donates guitars from Augustine Strings.
• Augustine StringscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for the Make Your MARC program, providing guitars for young adults participating in the 8-week healing arts program. Guitars are donated for use during the program.
• Keith Adams GuitarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuthier whose concert-quality classical guitars are awarded annually through the Marton L. Carroll Guitar Grant to deserving students ages 16-23 in the Midwest region. The grant provides hand-crafted instruments to inspire mastery of the instrument.
• Radio Arts Foundation (Classic 107.3 FM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRadio partner broadcasting the Inside Classical Guitar weekly show on Classic 107.3 FM, The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis. The show airs Monday evenings at 7-8PM CST.
• 560 Music Center (Washington University)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for concerts and master classes. Located at 560 Trinity Avenue, University City, MO. Hosts Guitar Masters Series concerts and student master classes.
• Ethical Society of St. LouiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary venue for the Guitar Masters Series 2026-27 concerts. Located at 9001 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63117. Hosts intimate performances and master classes.
• Salem United Methodist ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert venue partner for many performances and master classes. Located at 1200 South Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63131.
• WSIU (Southern Illinois University Carbondale)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNPR station in Carbondale, IL that also broadcasts Inside Classical Guitar on 91.9 FM, Wednesdays 8-9PM and Saturdays 5-6AM. Extends reach beyond St. Louis region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Austin Classical Guitar: Named 9-year curriculum partner of SLCG; runs an almost identical portfolio of in-school guitar education (GuitarCurriculum.com), concert series, teacher training, and community outreach in Austin, TX. Most directly comparable peer.
• New York Guitar Festival: Non-profit that presents concerts, master classes, and educational events centered on classical guitar in New York City; directly comparable as a city-level concert-plus-education classical guitar organization.
• Boston Classical Guitar Society: Regional classical guitar society hosting concerts, master classes, and community events in the Greater Boston area; directly comparable as a peer nonprofit society serving classical guitar enthusiasts.
• San Francisco Classical Guitar Society: Classical guitar society offering concerts, outreach in schools, and community programming in the Bay Area; directly comparable as a peer regional arts nonprofit.
• Los Angeles Guitar Society: Regional nonprofit society promoting classical guitar through concerts, competitions, festivals, and youth education in Los Angeles; closely comparable mission and program structure.
• Guitar Foundation of America: National classical guitar organization running festivals, competitions, publications, and educational programming; comparable as a higher-tier umbrella organization serving the same niche audience and constituency of classical guitar enthusiasts and students.
• Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: Midwestern classical guitar society presenting concerts and educational outreach; comparable regional positioning to SLCG with overlapping Midwest grant territory for student programs.
• Portland Guitar Society: Nonprofit that supports classical guitar performance and education in the Portland metro; comparable scope and programming mix to SLCG at a similar organizational size.

Others

• Hope Creates: Named SLCG partner running the Make Your MARC healing-arts program for youth in recovery; comparable as an adjacent community arts nonprofit with overlapping donor and beneficiary ecosystem rather than direct competition.
• Allegro Guitar Society:

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stlclassicalguitar
• Xx.com/guitarstlouis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-louis-classical-guitar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Louis Classical Guitar