Welcome! Each December our team gets together to reminisce and reflect on the amazing adventures we’ve had over the previous twelve months. It’s not easy to come up with the top ten, because there are always so many incredible moments to choose from, but somehow we always manage to narrow it down.
Don’t see your favorite? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you about the moment that touched your heart, tickled your fancy, or inspired your spirit.
Above all, of course, we’re grateful for you. We’re grateful for your presence in our lives, your kindness in our community, your belief in music, and your friendship.
Support ACG’s programs here.
#10 ACG Abroad: Uganda & Nepal
Oh wow. Our hearts expanded this year thanks to the amazing efforts of the teachers and students in our partner programs in Uganda and Nepal.
With assistance from our friends at Free Guitars 4 Kids and Cálido Guitars, we sent 30 guitars and 60 sets of Augustine Strings to Uganda. Seven months later, the guitars arrived, and by June 2024, teacher training had begun. By late August, guitar classes were underway.
This community’s incredible progress in just three months has left us in awe. Music Coordinator Aidah Nakitto:
“The arrival of the guitars has expanded opportunities for our children to learn new skills, express themselves creatively, and connect with others through music. I am fortunate to witness the transformative power of music in young lives. Our children face numerous challenges, yet through music, cultural arts, and gymnastics, they find a sense of purpose, confidence, and community. It reminds us of the universal role these things can play in building connections and resilience, no matter where we are in the world.”
Read more about our work in Uganda here.
We’ve also been getting the most amazing videos from Kathmandu, Nepal! In the video below, the kids walked from the building where they learn guitar to a nearby temple because they thought it would be a prettier backdrop for the video they wanted to send us. Enjoy!!
#9 Student Artistry
We’re consistently amazed by the artistry and leadership of the young people we work with in our community. Every ACG concert features student performers, and one unforgettable moment was Brandon Kim at The Rosette opening for guitar icon Raphaël Feuillâtre.
Beyond the stage, students like Jianna Zamora exemplified leadership. At Bowie High School, Jianna stepped up to teach her peers, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and growth. Read more about her inspiring journey in our blog post here.
We’re endlessly grateful for these young musicians who not only shine as artists but also lead with heart, contributing to the thriving musical community we all cherish.
#8 Music & Healing: Red Oak Hope
Our Music & Healing program continues to blossom, bringing light and connection through music. Since 2014, ACG’s Music & Healing artists have worked with individuals facing profound challenges, creating opportunities to reflect, share, and express personal experiences through music.
One partnership that highlights this transformative power is with Red Oak Hope, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of sexual exploitation. Their Austin home provides a safe space where women can heal and rebuild their lives. Through Red Oak Hope’s Restore program, participants discover creative outlets for self-expression as part of their holistic healing journey.
One stunning example of this work is Canción para Maria, a heartfelt song written by ACG Musich & Healing Artist, Michael, in collaboration with participants from Red Oak Hope. You can listen to Michael singing this beautiful song here.
We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to create music that heals and connects, and for the extraordinary individuals and partners who make this work possible.
#7 ACG Originals: Cuatro Elementos
Azul Barrientos and Joseph Palmer’s gorgeous concert Cuatro Elementos kicked off our ACG Originals concert series this season and it was pure magic.
This extraordinary collaboration was a breathtaking celebration of the elements of life, blending classical and folk music into something transcendent. They shared music from their childhoods growing up in two very different places (Azul in Mexico City and Joseph in Rockwall, TX) and seamlessly connected their worlds.
Here’s one of our favorites:
#6 Juvenile Justice: Long-Term Engagement
This year, we celebrated a milestone in our Juvenile Justice long-term engagement program. One Sunday afternoon in October, a young man we’ll call Tom performed beautifully at The Rosette. This concert marked the completion of his probation requirements, following his release from the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center about a year earlier.
Our long-term engagement initiative grew from a desire to extend the trust and transformation we see in students during their time with us in detention. Learning and performing music for the first time often sparks incredible growth, and we wanted to create a pathway for music and mentorship to remain an anchor as students reintegrate into the community.
Tom’s story is a testament to this vision. Not only did he captivate the audience with three solos and two duets during his performance, but he also shared his music in court as part of his final hearing, impressing the judge with his progress. Tom has since joined his school’s guitar class and actively seeks new opportunities to play and perform.
To learn more about Tom’s inspiring journey and the impact of this program, read Matt Hinsley’s full reflection letter here.
#5 Ten Years of ACGYO: Spain Tour
This year, we celebrated a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of the ACG Youth Orchestra!
Since its founding in 2013 under the direction of Joe Williams, ACGYO has brought together advanced young guitarists from across our community. To mark their 10th anniversary, the ACGYO went on a memorable tour in Spain in June.
The journey included a visit to the renowned Alhambra Guitarra factory, where members borrowed fifteen 4 P Conservatory model guitars for the tour. With these lovely instruments in hand, they performed across Southern Spain, delighting audiences at the Las Torres de Cotillas Flamenco Festival, the Antonio de Torres Museo de la Guitarra and a surprise performance in Granada.
This tour was a celebration of cultural exchange and community with memories that will last a lifetime. Learn more about the tour here.
#4 Great artists at The Rosette: Ana Vidovic
This year, The Rosette has been graced by an abundance of world-class musicians, including luminaries like David Russell, Raphael Feuillâtre, and the Beijing Duo.
One shining example was the unforgettable concert by Ana Vidovic. Ana’s playing was pure poetry. Her fingers moved with effortless grace, drawing out sounds that seemed to breathe life into the room. Every note carried such depth and beauty that the air felt electric, and for those moments, the world outside disappeared. It was the kind of performance that stays with you long after the last note fades.
We are incredibly proud to have such incredible musicians perform at The Rosette, and grateful to witness how it has become a destination for world-class guitar artistry.
#3 25 Years of ACG Community Guitar
We’re thrilled to celebrate 25 years of ACG’s Community Ensembles, and what an exciting year it’s been! Our ensembles are growing stronger than ever, with new additions like the South Austin Guitar Ensemble (SAGE) and the Youth Sinfonia.
ACG Community Ensembles are a special place where anyone, regardless of skill level, can come together and express themselves through music.
“We foster a strong community built on close relationships, creating a safe space where members can fully engage as artists and share the most powerful parts of their inner experience. Being able to express yourself in a space like that makes people feel good—about themselves, the people around them, and the world. And ultimately, we’re in the business of making people feel good.” – Tony Mariano, ACG Director of Community Education
We’re incredibly proud of how far our ensembles have come, and we’re excited for the future. To learn more about our 25th anniversary and the ongoing impact of the Community Ensembles, read our full interview with Tony here.
#2 Give Quartets with Pepe Romero
This October, we had the privilege of hosting guitar legend–and 2024-25 ACG Artist-in-Residence–Pepe Romero for his first week-long residency with ACG. It was a week filled with heartfelt connections, inspirations, and collaborations.
The residency brought to life the essence of our season theme, Give. Months of preparation led to this moment: nine incredibly talented students from our programs, guided by our teaching artists, came together to rehearse and perform with Pepe. In three quartets, Pepe joined as the fourth member, performing music composed or arranged by Pepe and his family.
This unique collaboration is building toward our season finale in May, where these quartets will share the stage once again for an electrifying celebration of music and giving. Learn more and see some behind the scenes content here.
#1 Presence
2024 began with the culmination of a yearlong journey with last season’s Artist-in-Residence and Grammy-nominated composer, Reena Esmail.
Presence was the centerpiece of our 2023-24 season. The performance featured Reena’s stunning compositions, which weaved Indian and Western classical traditions into something utterly unique.
It brought together an incredible lineup of artists: the extraordinary Mexican guitarist Dieter Hennings Yeomans, Austin’s boundary-pushing vocal ensemble VAMP, and critically acclaimed bassoonist Kristin Wolfe Jensen. These world-renowned performers were joined by a massive guitar orchestra, conducted by ACG Artistic Director Joe Williams, on the stage of the gorgeous AISD Performing Arts Center.
Reena’s work for Presence not only explored the intricate beauty of Indian ragas adapted for guitar but also brought together artists and traditions that rarely intersect. Also, every lyric in this piece was written by a member of the intergenerational guitar orchestra!
We are so grateful to have the opportunity to connect with our community in meaningful ways and create grandiose moments like this together.
BONUS: The ACG Team is Growing!
Our ACG family is expanding! This year, we’ve welcomed some incredible new team members and celebrated huge milestones within our community.
In the spring Judit Kolics came on board as our new Operations Director. We’re a $2,000,000 organization now, so that means a LOT of operations! Judit has totally transformed the ACG cerebral cortex and done it with kindness, elegance, and big giant smiles.
Then in the summer, Jordan Sanchez joined us as our new Education Project Manager, bringing her passion and expertise to support our mission. ACG Education is super complex with a dense array of services, programs, training, and curricula available to our global partners alongside deep and direct community-based services here in central Texas. Jordan’s awesome, and now everything is better.
In the classroom, we’re excited to see our former student (like more than a decade ago at McCallum High School!) Vijay Meunier, teaching full-time at Anderson High School. He’s doing an amazing job (of course!) and the parents and kids love him. Go Vijay!
Our Community Education team has grown too, with the addition of Alex Lew and Rey Rodriguez (both former students, too!!), two fantastic educators who share our dedication to spreading the joy of music.
And let’s not forget our dynamic group of interns: Maddy Coronado, Maddy Moore, and Christina Castro. Their energy, creativity, and hard work are fueling so much of what we do behind the scenes.
We couldn’t be more excited about the future with these amazing individuals on our team. Together, we’re building something truly magical! Here’s our 2024 ACG Holiday photo. Not everyone is in there – about fifteen missing – but you get the idea.
THANK YOU
All of the beautiful things that happen at ACG are possible because of people who believe in what we do and choose to support our work. If you would like to join us, and it’s the right time to give, we invite you to make a year-end gift. We are so grateful to every one of you!
In the space below, we would like to recognize some individuals and institutions for their exceptional generosity during the past year. We also invite you to view our sponsors here.
3M Foundation, Greg & Cindy Abell, Ameriprise Financial Community Relations, Applied Materials Foundation, Arnold Foundation, in honor of Lazan Pargaman, atsec information security, Augustine Foundation, Kelley Bowen, Amon Burton, Megyn Busse, Sarah & Ernest Butler, Bill & Lynne Cariker, Lucy & Bill Farland, Ford Foundation, Free Guitars 4 Kids, Kendal & Ken Gladish, Laura Gutierrez-Witt, H-E-B, Ed & Janet Hess, IBC Bank Austin, Penny Jamrack & Bill DeNigris, Jim & Marion Jirsa, Kaman Foundation, Elaine & Michael Kasper, Sangeeta Kaur & Hai Nguyen, Kodosky Foundation, Karrie & Tim League, Debra Lewis, Long Foundation, Louis & Mary Kay Smith Family Foundation, Richard Mattingly, Louise Epstein & John Henry McDonald, Carson & Michele McKowen, Meadows Foundation, Mockingbird Foundation, Bill Moyer, MFS Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation, Christa Pandey, Lazan Pargaman, Lloyd & Ferrell Pond, Kerry & Carole Price, David & Kera Race, Mary Raley, Rea Charitable Trust, Robert Reynolds & Kelly Raley, Jacqueline Rixen, Ruth J Rubio, The Ben & Nancy Sander Family, Shanti Foundation for Intercultural Understanding, Jill Smith, Judith Stich, Still Water Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, The D’Addario Foundation, Russ & Janey Trowbridge, University Area Rotary Club, Brian & Virginia Urban, W.D. Kelley Foundation, Warren Skaaren Charitable Trust, Webber Family Foundation, Maria Wells, Jack & Vanessa Wolfe, Greg Wooldridge & Lynne Dobson, Zack & Whitney Zamora, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Gruppo Butera, Bawi Agua Fresca, New World Deli, Fairweather Cider, Robert Rodriguez, Flavor Co. Catering + Events, Live Oak Brewing Company.