Angelica Campbell

We’re excited to share that there is a new way to participate in this beautiful ecosystem of ACG. 

You’ve probably heard of vehicle donations on public radio and TV. It’s a simple and supported process. Our partner will pick up the vehicle, give you a tax-deductible donation receipt, and then convert your gift into a contribution to ACG that will help us make the musical magic we make all year long. Here’s how:

ACG Vehicle Donations

This month we received a generous gift in the form of a vehicle donation from one of our long-time volunteers, Pietro, and we could not be more grateful for his consistent support and deep friendship. 

Pietro has been a volunteer with us since 2011! That’s 15 years. He met us through an intro guitar class he was taking at ACC and the rest was history, 

“I was taking an Intro to Guitar class at ACC, NRG campus. My instructor, Kim Perlak, who was working with ACG, made an announcement that ACG was looking for volunteers to help with the grand opening of the new City Limits Performance Center downtown. Jorge Caballero was playing “Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” along with a display of artwork. I’ve enjoyed volunteering with different organizations over the years. Here was a new experience with music I liked; and a free performance! So I made contact.

After that, I was hooked. In those early days, ACG performances were hosted at church venues, with seating always a challenge with pews. People like their space, and seating was close quarters, but we had great participants who got shoulder to shoulder. And I still recognize some of those patrons.

Highlights for me back then were special performances hosted by ACG supporters in their homes along with a catered buffet. (Will volunteer for food!) Something of a precursor to the Rosette venue in size. Before then however was the move to the AISD Performing Arts Center and actual assigned seating! So, it was ushering, parking attendant, program stuffing, furniture moving, chair setup, take down, cleanup, and “other duties as assigned,” along of course, with great music. Now too, a weekly visit to the garden at Baker Street.”

15 years is a long time to be involved with a community, Pietro shares what inspires him to continue being part of the ACG family, 

“Music, in its many aspects. In high school, I was part of an 80 voice A Capella choir which had a fine reputation and traveled to different areas to perform. These were my growing up years in the midst of personal challenges. Making music with peers that others could enjoy provided an anchor for me, and important social interactions. I can appreciate and resonate with the testimonials of students who have been part of ACG’s educational efforts. 

For me, there is an important healing aspect to my music experiences which I see manifesting through ACG’s growth and expansion. This was again reinforced with my recent attendance at the Williamson County Juvenile Center. For me, ACG has become much more than a non-profit with a focus on classical guitar.

I have to say too, that ACG has what I call a “chemistry” of people and purpose that continues to express itself in its service and mission to others, and I enjoy contributing to that in time and energy, along with a great bunch of volunteers.”

Just earlier this month, Pietro gifted his old Ford Ranger to us as part of our new vehicle donation program! He shares, 

“I vacillated between fixing it, selling it, and donating it for a couple of years. I was becoming less ambitious about getting under my Ford Ranger and pulling out the starter again. 

Recently I saw online that ACG was participating in a vehicle donor program, and that helped me make up my mind.

The process was simple. I knew I would need my registration but I couldn’t find my copy. I filled out the Application for a Certified Copy online here and mailed it off with a $2 check. I got it in the mail last week and went to the ACG link and submitted it online. Having the title in front of you makes filling out the form easy.

I was contacted the next day by the main organization which is in California. Information was reviewed and I was to be contacted for pickup by a local tow company. 

Today I followed up with the org and they gave me a contact number. I had given them my landline for contact expecting a call, and they were texting! Now they have my cellphone number and will schedule a pickup June 4 or 5. 

Do not sign your title until the tow folks arrive.”

Everything we do here at ACG is accomplished in partnership together. It takes the support of friends like you who believe in the power of music and kindness to make positive change in the world. 

We are grateful every day for the chances we have to share beauty with friends like you at The Rosette, and in classrooms, shelters, and hospitals all across our community and beyond.

Thank you so much

ACG Music & Healing brings human connection, beauty, and expressivity to individuals facing isolation and challenge, through collaboration with a skilled and trained ACG Artist. These services are available to a wide variety of clients through partnerships with more than a dozen social service providers including hospitals, shelters, residential rehabilitation facilities, parental education and family health organizations, and veterans service providers. Learn more about ACG Music & Healing.

When ACG’s Music & Healing program came to life we carried the vision that it would bring human connection, beauty, and expressivity to individuals facing isolation and challenge. Since 2014, we have been honored to bring that vision to fruition through collaboration with skilled artists in our community and participants who were willing to share their hearts with us. 

Since 2014, ACG Music & Healing has created more than 120 original songs with participants across Austin in clinical and community settings. Many of which came through the Lullaby Project, a partnership between ACG and Carnegie Hall where we connect with mothers specifically to create lullabies for their babies.

This year, our Music & Healing program continued its partnership with Travis County Correctional Complex, bringing the Lullaby Project to mothers in the facility. Across four weeks, four mothers each created an original song for their children—powerful expressions of love, connection, and hope.

“Catch Your Wave” was written by Marixza in collaboration with Music & Healing artist Claire Puckett. Set in a bright pop style, the song carries Marixza’s words of joy to her son and grandchild. The recording features vocals by ACG artist Daniel Fears.

Enjoy.

Special thanks to our partner Ashlee Silver, LCSW, Women, Families, & Children Program Coordinator at TCCC.

At ACG, we believe in the transformative power of music. We have witnessed firsthand how music can transcend boundaries, touch hearts, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. 

Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.

One of our favorite things at ACG is the long-term connections we make with students we met through our programs. We’re so grateful to have so many ACG alumni who move on to do incredible things with their lives. 

This week we heard from past Javier Niño Scholarship recipient, Xavier Eric Briones.

We met Eric in our AISD public school programs. As he has shared with us on multiple occasions, he had to learn some difficult lessons early on in his youth. He was teaching himself to play guitar, had loads of talent and passion, and was eager for instruction.

“I met ACG thanks to a woman named Meredith McAlmond. I mention her name alot. She’s an amazing cellist, performer, and teacher who really cares about the students. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Ms. Meredith and I met when I transferred high schools and was just looking for an elective to just finish school. 

At my previous school I took a classical guitar class just to pass and get an easy A. I expressed my interest to Ms. Meredith but they only offered orchestra at this new school. However, despite me not having real classical experience, nor the ability to read music or play well in my opinion. She was astounded and shocked at my playing and within a few days, she introduced me to ACG.

The only plans I had were to work till the day I died or go to the military to support my family since we were poor. 

Thanks to ACG I met famous classical players like the Assad Brothers and Clarice Assad. I got to experience real classical music for the first time for free. I became inspired.

Then I met Tony Mariano at ACG. He was nice, caring, and genuine. He helped me out in so many ways I could go on about for hours. He gave me lessons until he introduced me to Evan Taucher. 

Evan taught me theory and technique, and prepared me for college as by this time I was getting ready to audition and decided I was gonna do music seriously.

I took a serious gamble in deciding to audition for Miami. Although I know full well I couldn’t afford it, let alone could afford even community college, I had my sights set. Both ACG and Austin Soundwaves did their best to help me. They got me a ticket to Miami, Florida to help me audition. 

I became a musician within 2 years, with over 40 hours of practice a week + school. With hard work, belief, and support you can do anything. 

I like to think of ACG as a Family. They really helped me and so did Austin Soundwaves and of course Ms. Meredith. I am humbly grateful to all of them.”

Eric has a deep drive to help people who don’t have financial freedom, mentorship, or opportunities. He has a passion for bringing people together, bringing people up, and inspiring them to push through adversity the way he did. In fact, as a high school student, he volunteered to be a peer mentor in one of our ACG Juvenile Justice Services programs. 

Since graduating from our programs last year, Eric has just finished his first year at University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida studying Music Therapy. 

“My first year at college was an amazing experience. I got to meet many new people, and many new friends! It was an achievement I never expected to accomplish.

 I am majoring in Music Therapy, with a track of mastering in Music Ed and Ph.D in Music Ed as well.”

Not only is he having an incredible time and making beautiful friendships, he also received not only the Sony Music Group Global Scholarship but also the presidential scholarship from the university to support him in a full ride for all four years!

“Being in Miami is so amazing. The weather is nice 90% of the time. Great School, great academics, and a great music program. 

Some highlights have been playing volleyball, becoming a professional basketball trainer at UMiami and being able to play guitar with a band doing latin contemporary music. It’s been a blast! 

I received the Quinn Scholarship, also known as the Sony Music Group Global Scholarship. But the university themselves provided me with the Presidential scholarship, and the Dean of the Music School gave me his own personal scholarship that led to a full ride scholarship with extra assistance that allows me to attend UMiami for four full years!”

One of our favorite things about music is the time it creates for togetherness that over time blossoms into relationships, friendships, trust, and treasured memories. 

We’re so proud of Eric and can’t wait to see what he gets into next.

At ACG, we believe in the transformative power of music. We have witnessed firsthand how music can transcend boundaries, touch hearts, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. Over the past decade, we have been privileged to create and sustain Texas’ first and only daily, for-credit performing arts course for young people incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice system. 

Learn more about ACG Education and our Juvenile Justice programs here.

Support ACG.

Since 2012, ACG has offered Texas’ only Guitar Ensemble Concert and Sight Reading Contest. Structured after similar events for band and orchestra that promote teaching community and quality, over a thousand students and teachers gather and perform concerts they have worked hard on throughout the year and test their sight reading abilities. We now offer this event in six locations across the state to serve our many partner programs. Every year we are so amazed by the talent, dedication, and drive that comes into this competition from teachers and students alike. And we are so grateful for the hard work and clear success that comes out of our programs.

Since about the same time, we have also been privileged to create and sustain Texas’ first and only daily, for-credit performing arts course for young people incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice system. We currently provide daily instruction in Travis, Williamson, and Dallas Counties. However, in all of Texas history, students in detention have never had the opportunity to participate in events like Concert & Sight Reading Contest.  

Until now.

This week we had the privilege of receiving a wonderful reflection from the guitar director at  Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center, Noe Garcia, on his students’ first experience at our annual Concert & Sight Reading event. 

“This milestone represents a range of meaningful achievements for these students. Across the three facilities where I teach, the student population is quite diverse. Many of them have had inconsistent school experiences and have not had access to music opportunities that others might take for granted. 

For some, this was their first time collaborating on a recording. Others had never received a trophy, certificate, or any formal recognition for their efforts. I even had students who had never experienced something as simple as a “pizza party” or been invited to one.

All three of my groups received a 1 (highest rating). I was very excited for them, as many of my students shared that they had never previously received trophies or medals. It is especially meaningful to be able to provide that experience for them.

During the process, I noticed that the students were particularly enthusiastic when I brought in the microphones to record our submissions. They felt some pressure to produce a version that was strong enough but at the same time, many of them expressed that it felt like being in a “studio,” making it a new and memorable experience for a large number of students.

After the recording and receiving their scores, the students were extremely enthusiastic about earning the trophy.

With permission from administration and staff, I provided pizza and snacks for all of my groups to celebrate afterwards. We listened to our recordings together and discussed the feedback provided by the judges.

Overall, this experience was both rewarding and essential for their personal and educational development. They enjoyed being part of something that involved other schools, especially the opportunity to be included alongside public institutions.”

ACG’s Juvenile Justice programming provides music education and mentoring to youth in juvenile justice settings, including residential detention centers and treatment facilities. Through group guitar classes led by ACG Teaching Artists, these programs foster a sense of personal success and accomplishment while providing a positive outlet for personal expression.

This is a rare opportunity for students in these facilities and we feel so proud and grateful to see such success in Noe’s program.

Community Centered Art-Making is a vibrant expression of our mission to inspire individuals in the communities we serve through musical experiences of deep personal significance. 

Led by ACG’s Education and Artistic teams with the help of local and international artists and partners, this effort is always about designing opportunities for members of our community to be creative and to express their experience.

If you’re curious about the depth of this effort, check out our Community Centered Art-Making page where we share the details of some of our all original, deeply collaborative works here.

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of hosting French guitarist, Gaëlle Solal, for a week-long residency where she worked collaboratively within our Education programs visiting multiple schools, Juvenile Justice programs, held masterclasses, and made recordings with the ACG Youth Orchestra before performing three concerts for our Live at The Rosette series. 

We captured a video diary of what Gaëlle’s week entailed and we’re so excited to share it with you. We hope you enjoy her lively personality as much as we did. Enjoy 

On Saturday, March 14, we visited the First American Museum where we had a beautiful performance and had the opportunity to learn about the art, history and culture of the 39 indigenous tribes of Oklahoma. This was particularly special as we performed a piece by a Navajo composer, Connor Chee (Navajo Vocable no.9) as arranged by ACG’s Artistic Director and ACGYO Director, Joe Williams.

We took a trip to the Myriad Botanical gardens and learned all about some amazing vegetation from around the world. Also interacted with a sweet koi fish pond.

Later that evening we connected with the OkCU guitar studio and Matt Denman where we played at the OCU Smith Chapel. The OCU studio collaborated with ACGYO on Joe’s piece, Les Deux Jumeaux. We shared the stage and filled the room with love and art.

We wrapped up our tour on Sunday, March 15 by departing OKC and headed straight to the Dallas Museum of Art.

We performed in the Atrium there for all the locals and it was so well received. It was inspiring to perform in a place surrounded by so much amazing art!

Special thank you to our partners who helped us make this happen:

BONUS:

Just before departing for their tour, the ACGYO created a wonderful recording of Navajo Vocable #9 by Connor Chee at the ACC Highland recording studio. Watch below! 

Each December at ACG our team comes together to reflect on the past twelve months and celebrate some of our favorite moments. Choosing only ten is never easy; there are always so many incredible moments to choose from, but somehow we always manage to narrow it down. 

Above all, we’re grateful for you. We’re grateful for your presence in our lives, your kindness in our community, your belief in the wondrous power of music, and your friendship.

As we look toward the New Year, we hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. Your support becomes meaningful services and resources for schools, Juvenile Justice centers, hospitals, shelters, and community programming that fills The Rosette with life and connection.

Don’t see your favorite moment on the list? Let us know! We’d love to hear what moved you, inspired you, or stayed with you this year.

10) Goldberg Variations Reimagined at The Rosette

When we built The Rosette, our hope was that it would become a home for extraordinary expressions of creativity. Watching that dream come to life has been one of the great joys of recent years. More and more, musicians, actors, comedians, and filmmakers are stepping onto our intimate stage and making magic.

Among the many unforgettable experiences this year, Goldberg Variations Reimagined stands out as something truly special. Azerbaijani guitarist Rovshan Mamedkuliev and virtuoso accordionist Iosif Purits brought depth, imagination, and breathtaking artistry to Bach’s iconic work, transforming the room and everyone in it.

Thanks to our wonderful Production Director, Todd Waldron, we are thrilled to share the entire performance with you:

9) The All New GuitarCurriculum

In March, we launched the all new GuitarCurriculum! This resource is the foundation of ACG Education programs around the world. We began dreaming it up in 2004, launched the first version in 2008, and have been refining it ever since. Reimagining it from the ground up was no small task, and we’re absolutely thrilled with the result. This tremendous achievement was led by ACG Education team members Phil Swasey and Jordan Sanchez, former AISD music teachers whose firsthand classroom experience, vision, and care guided every step of the process.

Teachers now have an expanded Music Library with powerful new functionality, along with extensive video, audio, and instructional support materials. We added a dedicated student portal, Spanish-language support, and more intuitive tools for classroom success. Our education resources now include printed method books, with volumes for Elementary levels, Levels 1-4, and our just-published edition for Levels 5-8. 

What does this all mean? It means tens of thousands of students will learn guitar in classrooms led by confident, supported teachers with world-class resources, with many more joining them in the years to come.

8) ACG Community Ensembles Turn 25

Last season was the 25th anniversary of ACG’s Community Ensembles! To celebrate, our six ensembles joined together to perform the premiere of Superheroes!, a bold and imaginative new work by critically acclaimed composer Graham Reynolds. Inspired by the Marvel Universe, Superheroes! was commissioned by ACG to commemorate this milestone year, with generous support from Karrie & Tim League and Richard Linklater & Detour Filmproduction.

“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 Community Ensembles have come, and we’re excited for everything ahead. To learn more about the impact, growth, and heart of this program, read our full interview with Tony here.

7)  Phantom of the Opera

Earlier this year we mounted an unforgettable production celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1925 silent film classic! Austin-based composer and long-time ACG friend Matthew Lyons wrote an entirely new original score for Lon Chaney’s iconic portrayal of the mysterious fiend haunting the Paris Opera House. 

Joined by his Moontower Guitar Duo partner Stephen Krishnan, along with virtuoso violinist Sandy Yamamoto and acclaimed cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins, Matthew and this extraordinary ensemble brought thrilling new life to this timeless tale of murder, mystery, and mayhem. The result was absolutely jaw dropping.

6) Making a Difference in Schools

We believe that thoughtful, passionate teaching is the key to transformative connections with our students. When a young person experiences success and encouragement in the classroom, it opens a door of possibility. Guitar becomes a powerful vehicle for expression, validation, and growth.

Over the past two decades, we have had the privilege of building and supporting guitar education programs in schools across the United States on a large scale. And now, the measurable impact of that work is clearer than ever.

In the past two years, significant data has emerged showing that participation in ACG-supported guitar programs at Title 1 campuses meaningfully improves student academic and behavioral outcomes. From that data, three powerful headlines stand out:

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

5) Juvenile Justice Services: Vida Ensemble

For more than a decade, ACG has offered guitar classes inside central Texas juvenile justice facilities, giving young people meaningful tools for expression, connection, and growth during some of the hardest moments in their lives. But one question has always lingered: What happens next?

For students who successfully complete their programs at facilities like Gardner Betts, Williamson County, Phoenix House, and the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP), the path forward can be uncertain. Many return to schools and communities without consistent support or opportunities to continue the creative journey they began with ACG.

This year, that finally changed. 

After three years of dreaming, planning, and determined effort led by Director of Juvenile Justice Education Hector Aguilar, we launched our Juvenile Justice Post-Engagement Program—a long-term support system designed to help young people continue growing through music after they leave the justice system. Through this program, ACG connects students with one-on-one instruction in their home schools, rehearsal space for ensembles, and new performance opportunities. 

The program began this year with students referred through the probation department and JJAEP. They performed beautifully at The Rosette in May, and their courage, artistry, and joy filled the room. This is only the beginning, and we cannot wait to see what happens next.

Read Director of Juvenile Justice Education, Hector Aguilar’s most recent reflection here.

4) Spark: Travis Marcum’s 20th Year at ACG

For more than twenty years, Travis Marcum has helped shape the heart and soul of ACG through his artistry, creativity, visionary leadership in education, and groundbreaking work in Music & Healing.

“My journey working with ACG began twenty years ago when Matt Hinsley stopped me after a friend’s wedding and proposed an idea that would turn into the largest classical guitar education program in the U.S. That conversation also sparked a lifelong friendship with him, a friendship defined by deep gratitude and inspiration for the person and leader he is. 

“Since that day, we have built something incredible together. Tens of thousands of students worldwide pick up the guitar for the first time because of the dream we had. We have worked every day to remove barriers so that more and more young artists can realize their creative potential. We have found ourselves in every corner of our Austin community making music with folks. And it was this deepening of our roots that led to the creation of ACG Music and Healing in 2014, a program that has transformed my understanding of the capacity of music to connect us all.” – Travis Marcum 

In early December we celebrated Travis’s remarkable impact in an unforgettable concert event. He was joined on stage by Matt Hinsley, Tony Mariano, Claire Puckett, Camille Schiess, and six extraordinary young guitarists: Lukas Almanza, Vir Gideon, Mary Margaret Mason, Logan McKenzie, Ivana Thomas & Sullivan Willyard.

3) Give with Pepe Romero

In May, we celebrated the culmination of a yearlong journey with our Artist-in-Residence—

and guitar legend—Pepe Romero. 

Pepe’s residency embodied the heart of our 24-25 season theme, Give. Months of preparation led to a deeply meaningful musical exchange as nine extraordinary students from ACG programs came together to rehearse and perform with him. Formed into three quartets, each ensemble welcomed Pepe as the fourth member, performing music composed or arranged by Pepe and members of his illustrious family. 

The May finale performance was an electric celebration of artistry, mentorship, generosity, and intergenerational sharing.

2) Major Endowment Gift to ACG Education

2025 began with a truly extraordinary gift from the Sander Family, establishing the Carol Jean Mosher Knupp Endowment Fund for Education. Held at the Austin Community Foundation, this fund will provide lasting, sustainable support for ACG’s mission of educational excellence. 

In recognition of this remarkable generosity, our ACG Director of Education position—held by Dr. Travis Marcum since 2005—now carries the distinguished title Carol Jean Mosher Knupp Director of Education.

Carol Jean Mosher Knupp was the mother of Nancy Knupp Sander, and her love for music and education inspired this endowment. 

“Mom was the music education director of our family, so it feels perfect that this gift in her honor will support the ACG Director of Education,” the Sander family shared. “Our hope is that this endowment will further the mission of Austin Classical Guitar and honor the ‘Essence’ of our mother.”

Everything we do is accomplished in partnership. It takes friends in our community who believe in the power of music and kindness to create positive change. It takes dedicated staff members who devote their careers to service. It takes teachers who lead with heart and excellence. And it takes the courage of each student to apply themselves in the pursuit of beauty and expression, hard-earned through focus and discipline over time. We could not be more grateful for a gift of this magnitude.

1) Season Opener with Grisha at Troublemaker Studios 

Our 35th season opened with a spectacular night of flamenco at Troublemaker Studios, the Austin home base of visionary filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, whose many global film sensations include Spy Kids, Machete, El Mariachi, and Sin City.

We kicked off the evening with a celebration in Iron City, the massive five-block film set created for the James Cameron–produced action feature Alita: Battle Angel (2019, dir. Robert Rodriguez). Guests enjoyed delicious tapas and sangria by Flavor Co. while they explored the streets of this stunning futuristic cityscape, accompanied by live performances from Austin Flamenco Academy and Crockett High School’s Mariachi de Oro.

As the sun set, we moved into the nearby sound stage for a dazzling performance by Grisha, one of the world’s most astonishing flamenco guitarists. It was an unforgettable night of artistry, energy, and community, and the perfect way to ignite our 2025-26 season, Spark.

Thank You!

On behalf of all of us here at ACG, thank you for your belief in us, for your presence with us, and for your support of our artists and services. We hope you had a wonderful 2025, we hope you enjoyed your experiences with us, and we wish you a happy and healthy New Year.

BONUS: ACG Youth Orchestra in Big Bend 

We couldn’t resist adding one bonus item! This spring, the ACG Youth Orchestra embarked on a beautiful tour across West Texas, guided by a simple but powerful idea: the act of giving is worth celebrating. Inspired by our 2024-25 season theme, Give, these talented young musicians made stops in Fredericksburg, Alpine, Marfa, and San Antonio, using their artistry to raise funds for local organizations working to make their communities better 

Along the way, the group made time to connect with the land, and each other. One especially meaningful moment took place at Big Bend National Park, where ACG friend Nick Hurt filmed a stunning music video alongside the Rio Grande in Boquillas Canyon. Experience the magic they created:

At ACG, we believe in the transformative power of music. We have witnessed firsthand how music can transcend boundaries, touch hearts, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. Over the past decade, we have been privileged to create and sustain Texas’ first and only daily, for-credit performing arts course for young people incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice system. 

Learn more about ACG Education and our Juvenile Justice programs here.

Our end-of-year fund-drive has begun. If you have been inspired by our music and service this year, and it’s the right time, we hope you’ll consider making a gift this month. Support ACG.

This week we had the privilege of receiving a wonderful reflection from our Director of Juvenile Justice Education, Hector Aguilar, about a recent moment he shared with his students at Gardner Betts Juvenile Center. We hope this story brings a smile to your face the way it did ours. 

Just before Thanksgiving break, my students had learned all three guitar parts for a piece called Blue Magic; something we normally do before deciding who will take each part. By this point in the year each of them already had their assigned part, but we often let them combine or expand their parts if they want to take things a step further.

When we returned from break, I found out that one of these young men had spent his time off arranging Blue Magic as a solo for their talent show completely on his own!

What made it even more special was that his classmates loved his arrangement and had begun working with him to create a brand-new trio arrangement. They walked into class after the break excited, inspired, and eager to show us what they had put together.

The energy in the room that day felt different. It felt warm, creative, and hopeful. These students have faced many challenges at Gardner Betts this fall, yet they show up ready to make the most of every class we get. Seeing them not only practice on their own time but also collaborate on a new version of a piece because they wanted to, meant a lot.

I asked them, “Do you all want to turn this into a full arrangement we can perform?” They all said yes without hesitation. We spent the rest of the class shaping their version of Blue Magic together. It was a perfect reminder of how powerful it is when we pause long enough to listen to them – to see where their imagination goes and meet them there.

Moments like this remind me how much autonomy and creativity young people are capable of when they feel that the space is truly theirs. They problem-solve together, encourage each other, and take pride in the music they’re creating. They’re no longer just following instructions; they’re contributing ideas, leading sections, and building something as a team.

Their collaboration on this arrangement wasn’t assigned, it was chosen. That shift from participation to investment is where the real growth happens.

In environments where choice is often limited and their voices can feel small, opportunities like this help them see themselves differently. They experience accomplishment, creativity, and connection in ways that aren’t always available to them. They feel seen.

This arrangement became more than just music, it became a moment of self-expression, confidence, and belonging. Those moments stay with them.

Hector Aguilar

Our end-of-year fund-drive has begun. If you have been inspired by our music and service this year, and it’s the right time, we hope you’ll consider making a gift this month. Support ACG.

Virginia, a treasured friend and guitarist in our community ensemble, surprised us with this wonderful reflection.

When I moved to the Austin area in 2005, I spent time meeting different mothers from my daughter’s school. As we talked about our hobbies and work, I would mention that I played classical guitar.  One woman I had lunch with then asked me – What are you going to do with your classical guitar? I hadn’t really thought about it before because I was just learning and enjoying playing for myself.  But once I heard the question, I thought, what will I do?  

I decided to buy season tickets for the ACG concerts.  When I went to my first concert and heard Matt talk passionately about the education commitment ACG made, I was hooked.  ACG was the place for me.  In the concert program, I learned about the Community Ensembles and auditioned for the group.  And I also signed up to volunteer for concerts and other events. 

As part of the community ensemble, I met others who enjoyed playing as much as I did and some who were like me and not musically trained.  So, although it was difficult at first since I had never played with an ensemble before, I stuck with it and am glad I did.   Being with the group helped me improve my playing and sight reading, plus I found companionship with others who enjoyed playing together.  

One of my fondest memories was playing during the Guitars Galore ensemble festival.  Listening to other ensembles share their music and then being part of the close to 100 guitarists who played the newly-written winning composition was fascinating to me.  We would practice together in one day and under the direction of Michael Quantz, the piece all came together quickly and beautifully.  At times I was intimidated by the more expert players but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

As a volunteer at the concerts and any other event that ACG holds, I am always willing to talk with concert-goers and anyone who asks about the organization.  There are still many people who haven’t heard of all the things ACG does and they are impressed when they hear about it.

I am totally sold on ACG’s mission and am happy to be part of it as much as I can. 

Every time I listen to Matt and Joe talk about the various projects ACG supports, it warms my heart.  There is genuine love for the people involved and for all the students and teachers they support. ACG has opened my eyes to what is possible when an organization works together to offer more to the community.  

I am thrilled to still be part of ACG as a volunteer, donor and concert-goer. I continue to talk with others about the organization and the commitment it has to young guitarists and to people around the world. I was hooked 20 years ago and I’m still hooked on it. I will continue to support ACG as long as I can.

Virginia Urban

Our end-of-year fund-drive has begun. If you have been inspired by our music and service this year, and it’s the right time, we hope you’ll consider making a gift this month. Support ACG.

This week we had the opportunity to reflect on ACG’s impact the last 35 years with a very special young musician who experienced our programs firsthand, Jianna Zamora. We hope you enjoy her words as much as we did. 

I first connected with ACG when I was in sixth grade at Gorzycki Middle School. I had just begun taking guitar as my elective choice. I fell in love with the instrument almost immediately.

My teacher, John Montemayor, informed us that we could go to classical guitar concerts at the AISD Performing Arts Center for extra credit, and that ACG would provide tickets. The first concert I attended was Irina Kulikova. Seeing an incredible female guitarist like her perform live sparked a dream in me. A dream to be a great classical guitarist, and to inspire other young people like I had been inspired.

In High School, I participated in All Region guitar where I auditioned to play alongside other qualifying guitar students around Austin. It was there that I first met Tony Mariano, ACG’s Director of Community Education. I deeply admired his attention to detail and his pursuit of beauty, even in the simpler pieces that we played.

Throughout the next few years, I joined the ACG Youth Orchestra. I was lucky enough to be part of that group for 3 years. Through ACGYO, I was given so many incredible opportunities like playing in 80+ person guitar orchestras, opening for artists such as Ana Vidovic, playing in Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids guitar orchestra music video, and playing in a quartet alongside Pepe Romero. 

There have been so many experiences that helped me blossom into the person I am today. 

Toward the end of my freshman year at Bowie High School, our guitar teacher left unexpectedly leaving us without instruction for our UIL contest that year. My classmate and dear friend, Besa Carney, stepped up and conducted our class at UIL, and we were awarded superior ratings for our performance. I was in awe of her leadership and courage, and I was inspired to lead an ensemble of my own one day. 

In my senior year, we were again left without a guitar teacher, so I stepped up and became the instructor for the year and led our class to getting superior ratings once again at UIL. That experience gave me a new appreciation for passionate teachers and really helped me to gain confidence in myself as a leader and as a musician. 

In my sophomore year of high school, I was placed in a quartet with Ace Pearson, Juanito Rodriguez, and Besa Carney. This was my first experience working in a smaller ensemble, and I felt like a very small fish in a very large pond. Together, we opened for a few concerts at the Rosette and we all remain friends to this day. 

In the summer of 2024, ACGYO went on tour to Spain. We spent ten days in five different cities performing and exploring this incredibly beautiful place. My favorite city was Granada, but the whole trip was surreal. 

Only a few weeks after I returned to Austin and was still reminiscing about the trip, Joe Williams, the director of the ACGYO, called to tell me I had been selected to be one of nine young players chosen to play on stage alongside guitar legend, Pepe Romero. We were coached by Tony Mariano, and for the next 10 months we practiced weekly, performed numerous times, and grew close as musicians, colleagues, and friends. This experience shaped me as a person throughout my college application and audition process, and, when the actual concert with Pepe occurred, it marked the end of a chapter for me. 

All of these experiences showed me what life could be like as a musician, and motivated me to apply to music school. I am now pursuing my performance degree at UT Austin with Professor Adam Holzman, following in the footsteps of so many other guitarists at ACG and beyond. 

As I’m wrapping up my first semester at UT, I am loving college thus far. I love being surrounded by music students who took the same leap I did because of their passion for music. It feels so validating and rewarding to be in this environment. I reflect a lot on how I got to where I am and how I would not have been able to do this if it weren’t for the ACG community. So thank you. 

Jianna Zamora

Things Jianna Mentions

Besa Carney conducts Bowie High School

SPY KIDS Music Video directed by Robert Rodriguez

Jianna + student quartets play with Pepe Romero: Finale, El Vito 

ACGYO plays Arabesca in Spain