NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (March 5, 2026) — Olivia Bastin of Muscatine, Iowa, was among more than 85 Belmont University student musicians from the University Orchestra and Chorale who took the stage alongside world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli in February, performing in the Nashville and Birmingham stops of his "Romanza — 30th Anniversary World Tour."
The students performed with Bocelli, Sunday, February 22, at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, and Monday, February 23, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, joining a professional orchestra conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio.
The opportunity traces back to October 2025 when Belmont students performed with Bocelli during "An Evening of Hope" at Belmont's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, a landmark concert that launched the University's Hope Transforms campaign. Moved by the students' professionalism and talent, Bocelli invited the students to join him on tour.
"Distinctive opportunities like this don't happen by chance," said Stephen Eaves, dean of Belmont's College of Music and Performing Arts.
"They happen when rigorous preparation meets real-world trust. Our students have earned this 'only-at-Belmont' moment through their discipline, artistry and professionalism, and we're proud to see them represent Belmont on this prestigious world tour."
Selected through a professional audition and selection process modeled after industry standards, Belmont's student musicians performed as paid professionals alongside faculty principals and guest artists. The engagement mirrored the fast-paced realities of the global touring industry, requiring precision, flexibility, and excellence at the highest level.
"This experience affirms what we strive to do every day: prepare students not just to observe excellence, but to achieve it," said Dr Christopher Fashun, Belmont's director of orchestras.
"Our students were prepared in the way that reflect the professional standards, and that preparation opened the door to an extraordinary opportunity."
The performances were part of Bocelli's "Romanza — 30th Anniversary World Tour," celebrating one of the most successful albums in classical music history.
