Jared Waln is an award-winning classical guitarist and music educator in the Twin Cities. Receiving his master’s degree in music education at the University of St. Thomas, Jared is the director of the award-winning guitar program at Southwest High School, and director of guitar and music professor at the University of St. Thomas. His career is primarily in music education, however as a union musician he performs with the Minnesota Opera, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival, Sioux City Symphony, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, The Orpheum, and additional musical theaters all around the Twin Cities. Jared was recently involved in a recording project with 10-time Grammy winner Blanton Alspaugh and SoundMirror performing the music of Kyle Pederson with Transept. Jared also recently performed a world premiere guitar concerto, Unfretted, composed by James Stephenson and performed with the Grand Symphonic Winds. Jared was an original teaching artist for the Guitar in Our Schools program with MGS, teaching an adaptive guitar program for special education students at White Bear Lake High School. He has previously performed for the MGS Classical Guitarathon in 2019, 2023, and 2024. Jared is also a council member of the National Association of Music Education, NAfME, and represents the North Division for guitar education. When Jared is not teaching or giving concerts, he loves to travel with his wife, try new restaurants, go hiking and trail running, and spend time with their cat George and cockatiel Emery.