ACG Youth Summer Camp – Meet The Staff!
Tony Mariano, Camp Director
Dr. Tony Mariano, Director of Community Education at Austin Classical Guitar, leads diverse community music programs, including prestigious guitar ensembles. A key member of the ACG Education team, he shapes over fifty classical guitar programs in Central Texas, impacting 4,000+ students daily. With a rich educational background, Dr. Mariano earned his BM from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and his MM and DMA from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, he spearheads ACG’s free private lesson program, providing expert instruction at no cost to students in Title I schools in Central Texas.
Rey Rodriguez, Camp Assistant Director
Rey Rodriguez is a senior attending the University of Texas at Austin. Born and raised in Austin Texas, Rey has been playing classical guitar since the age of 12. Rey has been a teaching artist with ACG for almost 2 years. Rey is a passionate Classical Guitarist who wants to share his skills with those who have less access to musical opportunities and inspire them to make amazing music. Rey is currently pursuing a BA in music with an emphasis in Classical Guitar at The University of Texas at Austin.
Evan Taucher – Visiting Artist
American guitarist Evan Taucher is gaining global acclaim in the classical guitar realm for his success in international competitions and concerts. Beyond his traditional achievements, Evan is known for connecting with diverse audiences through web outreach. As the director of Ex-Aequo, a local non-profit, and a collaborator with Austin Classical Guitar, he actively contributes to the community. Recently performing at the Long Island Guitar Festival and the Colorado State Artist series, Evan premiered a concerto by Bevan Manson with the Channel Islands Symphony Orchestra in 2023.
Mengya Tian – Visiting Artist
Mengya Tian is a Chinese guitarist and educator living and performing in the United States. She balances her passion as a music educator with her performing and recording output, always looking to artistically connect with others. Tian aims to cultivate students to become independent-thinking musicians in both theoretical and practical ways.
Mengya has experience teaching for D’Addario Music, UT-Austin’s “String Project,” Colibri Preschool, Orpheus Academy of Music, and at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, TX.
As a performer, Mengya Tian is a prize winner in many international guitar competitions. She joined the nonprofit Ex-Aequo Artists to record the collaborative album “Changing the Canon,” which commissioned nine Black American composers to write for the guitar.
In addition to her performances in China, Tian has performed at various festivals and events throughout the United States as a guest artist. She is also an active chamber music performer, and collaborated with renowned musicians!
Travis Marcum – Workshop Clinician
Dr. Travis Marcum, with a PhD in Music and Human Learning from The University of Texas at Austin, is the Director of Education at Austin Classical Guitar. Since 2005, he has played a pivotal role in establishing classroom guitar programs globally, reshaping music education offerings in the U.S. His impactful initiatives extend to the Music & Healing Initiative at ACG, providing specialized music programs for communities facing challenges, collaborating with institutions such as Dell Children’s Hospital and Carnegie Hall.
Travis will guide our group through composition workshops, culminating in the collaborative creation of a new piece to premiere at our concert.
Camille Schiess – Workshop Clinician
Hailing from Santa Barbara, California, Camille Schiess is a highly sought-after violinist and fiddler based in Austin, TX. With a versatile gift for exploring various styles and genres, she has graced diverse stages, from the concert hall of the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra to local ATX Music Festivals like South by Southwest. Camille, a winner of the Texas Rising Stars competition, has also soloed with the Austin Civic Orchestra and performed with the Roots on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2019. Beyond her captivating performances, Camille is dedicated to teaching, fostering a supportive environment for students to enjoy and explore their passion for music.
Camille will lead us in delving into the art of improvisation, crafting new and innovative creations on the spot.
Shayna Sands – Workshop Clinician
Shayna Sands, a musical artist and teacher based in Austin, Texas, discovered her passion for guitar at age 12. Rooted in folk and blues, she honed her craft in New York City before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Composition. Committed to music education, she founded HeartBeats Music Fundamentals for Young Children. Shayna’s dedication extends beyond her craft; she collaborated with the Austin Sanctuary Network and Austin Classical Guitar to provide guitar lessons for an immigrant family in sanctuary. Now actively involved in Austin’s music scene, she performs regularly and explores the healing power of music as an Artist in Austin Classical Guitar’s Healing and Music program.
Shayna will lead us through learning songs and covers that we all know and love, and will even help us write our own songs!
Alex Lew – Camp Counselor
Alex Lew is a guitarist and teacher based out of Austin, TX. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Music and Master of Musical Arts degree from Yale School of Music, and is currently working towards a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at UT. Alex studied under renowned guitarists Adam Holzman and Benjamin Verdery and has played for notable guitarists such as David Russell, Eliot Fisk, and Marcin Dylla. As a native to Austin, he was introduced to the guitar through Austin Classical Guitar (ACG) while attending Lamar middle school and he plans on inspiring the guitar community through his performance and teaching. Alex currently works at ACG as the assistant director of the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra under Joe Williams and as a teaching artist traveling to various schools in the Austin area.
Gema Ornelas – Camp Counselor
Gema Ornelas is a teaching artist with Austin Classical Guitar and a guitar instructor at the Orpheus Academy of Music. She is also a proud member of the ACG Chamber Ensemble. During her undergrad, she studied guitar with Adam Holzman at the University of Texas at Austin, and she is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in the Music and Human Learning program directed by Dr. Rob Duke at UT. Gema believes in creating effective experiences for students to learn by offering them a productive and safe environment to demonstrate and improve their skills.