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.

Madeliene Coronado, Camp Counselor

Madeliene Coronado currently studies music education and classical guitar at UT Austin. She serves as a teacher for the UT String Projects guitar and early childhood programs, works with the honors orchestra at UT Elementary, and is an education intern for ACG. Madeliene is working towards a future career in music therapy and is a big advocate for inclusion in education and making music accessible for everyone.

Rey Rodriguez, Camp Counselor

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.

Stephen Krishnan, Visiting Artist

Stephen Krishnan is a Grammy-Nominated guitarist and educator. He is a member of the Austin Guitar Quartet, director of the guitar department at the Orpheus Academy of Music, Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Camerata, and Adjunct Faculty at Huston-Tillotson University. His students have been featured in festivals and competitions nation-wide.

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!

Jeremy Waldrip, Visiting Artist

Jeremy Waldrip is a doctoral classical guitar performance student at the University of Texas at Austin. In the past year-and-a-half, he has been awarded nine prizes in guitar competitions across the country. Jeremy is also a Teaching Artist for ACG and an instructor at Orpheus Academy of Music in Austin.