ACG Teaching Artists Impact

Through ACG Education, we have witnessed firsthand how music can transcend boundaries, touch hearts, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. Learn more about ACG Education here. If you would like to support this work with a donation, click here. 

At Austin Classical Guitar, we believe that thoughtful and passionate teaching is the key to creating transformative connections with our students. When a young person finds even a little success and encouragement in our classrooms, it cracks opens the door for fascination. Guitar becomes a vehicle for expression, inspiration, validation, and growth.

Over the past two decades, we’ve had the privilege of building and supporting guitar education programs in schools across the United States. Again and again, we’ve seen how music can bring positive change to people’s lives in countless ways.

Today, we’re thrilled to share new data that highlight remarkable student success right here in Austin. We’d also like to introduce you to some of the caring and talented teaching artists on our team who enhance our ACG Education services with free lessons in Title 1 schools each week.

From the data, three powerful headlines emerge:

1. Academic Achievement: Guitar students in Austin ISD Title 1 middle and high schools outperformed their non-guitarist peers – matched by campus and demographic – on every STAAR test subject.
2. Positive Behavior: Those same students were suspended at half the rate of their non-guitarist peers.
3. Pathways to Excellence: Nearly half of this year’s All Region Ensemble audition-winners came from Title 1 School programs supported by ACG, where students receive free lessons and instrument assistance.

All-Region Success: The Impact of Our Free Lessons Program

The All-Region Guitar Ensemble is a selective honor that recognizes the top student guitarists from schools across the area. For participants, the audition process offers a rare chance to showcase their talent and measure themselves against their peers. Earning a spot in the ensemble is a powerful source of pride and motivation.

For Austin Classical Guitar, it’s one of the few opportunities we have to see how close we are to achieving our goal of leveling the playing field in music education for all students, regardless of income or zip code. Success means seeing students from Title I schools—where resources are often limited—actively participating, auditioning, and being chosen alongside their peers from more affluent campuses.

Our Free Lessons Program plays a vital role in making that success possible. Through the dedication of our Teaching Artists, many of whom were once ACG students themselves, we’re able to provide instruments, private lessons, and mentorship to dozens of young people across Austin who might not otherwise have access to one-on-one instruction. Their work is the foundation that allows students from Title I campuses to prepare for and excel in opportunities like All-Region.

This past year’s results show remarkable progress:

• The number of Title I schools represented in All-Region doubled, growing from six to twelve.
• The number of students auditioning from those campuses increased by 44 percent overall.
• At Northeast High School, every participating student came through ACG’s Teaching Artist Program, a powerful example of how direct mentorship and free lessons open doors to opportunity.
• The number of Title I students selected for the All-Region Ensemble rose from 19 to 23, a clear sign that access and excellence are expanding hand in hand.

The Heart of the Work: Our Teaching Artists

Behind every statistic are the remarkable musicians and educators who make this work possible. Our Teaching Artists are more than instructors; they are mentors, role models, and creative leaders who carry ACG’s mission into classrooms across the city.

At the same time, Austin’s affordability challenges make it increasingly difficult for artists to sustain careers here. We’re proud that ACG can provide meaningful, consistent income for local musicians while enriching the lives of thousands of students. In 2024–25, ACG invested nearly $100,000 in our Teaching Artists, supporting both student learning and the health of Austin’s creative community.

“Teaching through ACG brings me so much joy! I started classical guitar because of ACG from someone doing the work that I currently do: going into public schools and sharing my love for the instrument. I am very passionate about the guitar and it’s a special opportunity for me to share that passion with young musicians in the Austin area. My path with guitar has truly come full circle in the fact that I am doing the work that introduced me to this world, which is just so cool to think about.” – Alex Lew, ACG Alumni, Teaching Artist, and YO Assistant Director

“ACG does an amazing job of providing beautiful music making experiences for kids and the Austin Community and the fact that I am able to be a part of their journey really motivates me to be a better teacher, musician, and person. Some of my proudest moments in my career have been thanks to ACG’s teaching artist program. Being able to help a student succeed in their goals as a musician is deeply rewarding to me and seeing my students thrive thanks to the programs that ACG provides is amazing.” – Rey Rodriguez, ACG Alumni, Teaching Artist, and SAGE Assistant Director

“I’m always deeply inspired by the mission that drives ACG. It’s amazing to see that mission come to life every time I teach a lesson, conduct an ensemble, attend a rehearsal, visit a guitar classroom, or even just chat with a colleague. What brings me the most joy is witnessing a student’s realization of how far they’ve come. These moments happen at different points in their journey — after a performance, an audition, or even during a lesson when they finally hear themselves sounding the way they imagined. Seeing their pride and growth reminds me of the incredible doors ACG opens for students through all of us who share in this work. It’s a joy to know that through music, we’re helping students discover not only their talent but also their confidence and self-expression.” – Gema Ornelas, ACG Teaching Artist and Chamber Ensemble member

“Sharing my love of guitar with the students at Lively Middle School has been a true blessing. I cherish the moments when a student makes themselves proud after working hard to overcome a challenge. Having faced my own learning barriers in the past, I can empathize deeply with my students and offer practical tools to help them move through obstacles. This work is both humbling and deeply rewarding, and I’m grateful to ACG for making such a meaningful contribution to our community. I studied classical guitar alongside composition, and that foundation inspires my work as a singer-songwriter and community musician. I facilitate healing-centered songwriting groups and love sharing music in spaces where creativity and connection thrive. Austin’s music community feels like a family, and being part of it through performance and service continues to inspire me every days.” – Shayna Sands, ACG Teaching and Music & Healing Artist

“Working with ACG has brought a lot of fulfillment into my life. I work at a high school in San Antonio with students who are really excited about having someone to guide them farther into their journey with classical guitar. I started in a public school program like they did and it feels really amazing to help students that have so much potential and see them grow!” – Jesse Reece, ACG Teaching Artist

“I have really enjoyed working with ACG because it really feels like I am giving back to the community. Growing up I was fortunate enough to get free lessons from my teachers who knew I couldn’t afford it and I am so happy to do the same for kids now. Also having the chance to help kids find their way to college has been a big goal for me and happy to have the space to do it with ACG.” – David Manzanares, ACG Teaching Artist

“I love teaching students how fun and expressive the guitar can be. Watching them improve, gain confidence, and reach their goals is deeply rewarding. It is inspiring to see how excited students and their families are about learning the guitar, especially when they perform a solo piece for the first time and begin to find their own artistic voice.” – Jeremy Waldrip, ACG Teaching Artist

“When I do my work with ACG, I am frequently greeted by a student saying “I am so glad you’re here, I really need your help on this one part!” By then end of our lesson they say “thank you so much, this really helped me!” I can’t help but smile and feel joy! It gives me great joy to be a part of their progress, even more so knowing that these students could not afford private lessons. Working with ACG allows me to use my experience and expertise to help students feel confident.” – Cesar Gomez, ACG Teaching Artist

“Working with ACG has been such a bright spot in my life, and I’m super grateful for it every single day. It’s not just about getting to play and teach guitar all the time; it’s also about the amazing people I get to work with. I feel really lucky to be surrounded by such empathetic, driven, and caring folks. Whether I’m leading my adult guitar classes, hanging out one-on-one with a student, or working on the lullaby project, it all feels so rewarding and gives me a real sense of purpose. It’s like being part of a community filled with love, and it honestly doesn’t feel like work—it feels like a mission.” – Arnold Yzaguirre, ACG Teaching and Music & Healing Artist