The ACGS ACC Scholarship made me feel legitimate as a musician and gave me the mindset to keep pushing forward…There is uncertainty everywhere in life, but when you have true passion for something, the sacrifices you are willing to make are greater and, with full commitment, there is no way to fail.
Several years ago, thanks to the encouragement of ACGS Vice-President John Henry McDonald, we began offering one full scholarship to Austin Community College each year.
The scholarship is designed to assist students with a connection to classical guitar as they pursue their dreams – with a particular emphasis on helping graduates of our school programs continue on to higher education (even if they choose not to major in guitar).
We have had several remarkable recipients of this scholarship and we look forward to many more. I should say that one reason this is such a good fit for us, is that ACC has a phenomenal classical guitar faculty member in Dr. Kim Perlak. And so our scholarship recipients are in excellent hands and, as you’ll see in this interview, are given the skills they need for success, and the inspiration and encouragement they need to pursue it.
Josh Gilpin is a remarkable young man, who is not only a serious and dedicated student and ACGS scholarship recipient, but has since become a fantastic volunteer for our concert events as well. I sat down with Josh recently to talk about his career plans, and decided to ask him a few questions for an interview. I hope you enjoy his inspiring words as much as I have.
Matthew Hinsley: Guitar is a second career for you – what led you to it?
Josh Gilpin: Mechanical engineering is what I studied at UT-Austin and my professional engineering career was short-lived. Some might see it as wasted time, but to me, it was simply the necessary path to get me to where I was supposed to be. Had I not given an engineering career a chance, I would never have encountered the opportunities that allow me to sit and write this down right now.
Guitar is my one and only career. It just took a while for us to find each other and get on the same page. I am a non-traditional student of music and guitar, and I like to think that had I started my life with music much earlier, I would not appreciate it half as much as I do now. I love learning and I love teaching music and look forward to where it will take me.
What led me here was determination, stubbornness, commitment to the idea that we should all do something we love for a living and always recalling the importance that music has played in my life as a child and as an adult. Once I figured out how a career in music was possible, there was no looking back.
MH: What did it mean to you to get the ACGS ACC scholarship?
JG: Receiving the ACGS ACC Scholarship was a huge surprise, relief and honor. I did not feel I had much of a chance, but I just offered what I could at the time. The timing was impeccable, financially speaking, because without this award I would have had to take a leave of absence from school. In the year that I received this aid, I was able to continue my studies most importantly, but also compose a piece for a string quintet, prepare for my classical guitar auditions and finish my two-year music degree.
The ACGS ACC Scholarship made me feel legitimate as a musician and gave me the mindset to keep pushing forward in all of my musical endeavors. It gave me the necessary nudge to manage my time more efficiently and improve my playing significantly.
MH: What are your goals with guitar? What’s next?
JG: My goals with guitar include being a persistent student for life thereby making myself an acceptable instructor, sharing music with others and hopefully affecting them in long-term ways that keep them connected with music for life, exploring uncharted musical territory and to always feel like I am growing with the guitar.
I am now moving on to Southwestern University for a degree in performance. My plans are to continue growing my teaching business, seize more opportunities for teaching and performing, and to stay involved with the community and ACGS. I aim to become a proficient instructor/performer in classical guitar and jazz guitar while maintaining other genres that I have been playing for a longer time. I might find myself in a master’s program in a few years as well focusing on pedagogy and education.
MH: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
JG: I have spoken with many friends, family members and strangers about my decision to pursue music. These conversations typically lead to the other person saying something along the lines of “What I would really like to do is……..” or “I wish I could do (blank) for work” and my response is always “You can!”
There is uncertainty everywhere in life, but when you have true passion for something, the sacrifices you are willing to make are greater and, with full commitment, there is no way to fail. If you have dreams, pursue them, but stay grounded, have realistic attainable goals and be prepared for a boost in quality of life.