The Power of Music

May 14, 2026

Trustee Mark Cabaniss ’82 Launches $100,000 Matching Gift for Mars Hill Music

For generations of students, Mars Hill University has been a place where music is not simply studied but lived. For alumnus Mark Cabaniss ’82, that truth took root early—and it continues to guide his commitment to future generations of Mars Hill musicians.
“I remember clearly the afternoon I came home from high school and announced to my parents at the dinner table that I was going to apply to Mars Hill College as a music major,” Mark recalled. “They were delighted. I applied to no other schools.”

That certainty was born through formative experiences in the Shelby High School Music Department and participation in the annual Mars Hill Choral Festival. “Those moments clarified my calling,” he said. “I was thrilled when I was accepted.”

Mark’s four years on The Hill were marked by tremendous personal and professional growth. “It was a time of dreaming dreams,” he said. Those dreams were nurtured by a close-knit campus community who invested deeply in their students. Central to that growth were faculty members who modeled excellence, integrity, and care for students, including Bill Thomas, whose example ultimately inspired Mark to endow a music scholarship in his honor in 2025.

According to Mark, that same spirit of gratitude is at the heart of the Power of Music Fund, a new initiative he established to strengthen and expand opportunities for Mars Hill music students. At its core is a belief he has carried throughout his life and career. “Music has the ability to positively impact lives in ways few other disciplines can,” Mark said. “When we invest in music at Mars Hill, we’re investing in graduates who will carry music into the world and use it to positively impact and transform lives.”

To launch the fund, Mark made a $100,000 matching gift, inviting alumni and friends to join him in supporting the next generation of musicians. Through this challenge, gifts are doubled in impact—opening doors to enhanced mentorship, experiential learning, and professional preparation. “Mars Hill has meant a lot of things to a lot of people for generations,” Mark said, “but most certainly, Mars Hill means music.”

A key component of the fund is the Mark Cabaniss Music Masterclass Series, which brings accomplished artists, composers, and educators to campus for immersive learning experiences. “Some of the most formative moments of my college education came through direct encounters with nationally and regionally recognized composers and clinicians,” Mark said. “Those moments clarified my calling, built my confidence, and opened doors. I want today’s students to have those same experiences.”

As both an alumnus and a longtime college adjunct educator, Mark said he has seen firsthand the difference such encounters can make. “Learning happens most powerfully through conversation, mentorship, and shared experience,” he said.

The Power of Music Fund also honors the legacy of two professors of music who were beloved figures in Mars Hill’s music history. Moore Auditorium will feature the Wayne Pressley Stage, recognizing Pressley’s enduring influence, while an annual Ray Babelay Award in Music will celebrate the values embodied by Ray Babelay.

“Wayne Pressley was more than the chair of the music department during my years at Mars Hill,” Mark said. “He was my conducting professor, my trumpet instructor, and a trusted adviser whose influence continues to inspire my life and career.” Of Babelay, he adds, “Ray taught us that musical excellence and human kindness are not separate qualities— and that lesson has stayed with me ever since.”

Dr. Rodney Caldwell, current chair of the Department of Music, sees the fund as a powerful extension of that legacy. “We in music are all very excited about this new learning opportunity for our students and the continued generosity of Mark Cabaniss,” Caldwell said. “He continually demonstrates the impact that Mars Hill music had on his life and helps ensure our current students have the same life-changing moments.”

Looking ahead, Mark hopes the fund will continue to grow and evolve. “My hope is that the Power of Music Fund becomes a living legacy,” he said— “one that remains focused on student growth, artistic excellence, and the enduring influence of music.”

Through his leadership gift and invitation to others, Mark Cabaniss is ensuring that the power of music will continue to resonate—on The Hill and far beyond.

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 edition of Mars Hill: The Magazine.