Angelica Campbell

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. Since 2014, 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. We currently provide daily instruction in Travis, Williamson, and Dallas Counties. 

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

Support ACG.

Our Director of Juvenile Justice Education, Hector Aguilar shared a beautiful reflection from the 2025-26 school year. Read the full letter below:

Hi everyone, 

As I sit with all that this year held, I keep coming back to how much this work continues to grow, not just in numbers or programs, but in relationships, in trust, and in what feels possible. 

I find myself thinking a lot about how different this work feels compared to even a few years ago. There was a time when most of our work centered almost entirely around what happened inside a classroom or facility. That is still a huge part of what we do, of course, but these past couple of years have felt different. I am beginning to see more clearly how connected all of this is becoming. 

One of the biggest challenges in this work has always been staying connected with students once they leave the spaces where we first meet them. That continues to be one of the hardest parts of this work. At the same time, this year gave me a lot of hope. Through our Vita Ensemble continuing engagement program at the Rosette, Judge Denise Hernandez’s Transformative Youth Justice Program referral program, and our new relationship with Gardner Betts’ Hope Studio, and other referral based opportunities, I feel like we are slowly creating more pathways for students to stay connected to music and to us beyond their initial placement. That has always been the dream, even if it continues to be challenging. 

This year we served over 100 students across Central and North Texas, ranging from 5th through 12th grade. We also placed more than a dozen guitars directly into students’ hands so they could continue making music beyond the classroom. More than the numbers, what stands out most is seeing students continue to grow into themselves. We are watching them perform publicly, share their stories, support one another, and begin seeing themselves not just as students in a program, but as musicians, artists, and leaders. 

One area that gave me a lot of encouragement this year was the continued growth in our programs and partnerships. In Dallas, we expanded to three active groups with the addition of Youth Village, which felt like a big step forward for our work in North Texas. I have also been reflecting a lot on the growth of our teaching artist support, especially in Dallas. This work is deeply meaningful, but it can also be challenging, and we know teacher retention is still an area where we want to keep growing. 

At the same time, I feel really encouraged by what we are building. Each of our teaching artists has shared that they feel supported, and that means a lot. We are building stronger systems of communication, support, and collaboration so that no one feels like they are carrying this work alone. 

Another exciting development this year was the final approval of the Hope Studio curriculum after many conversations, revisions, and advocacy. Hope Studio gives us another way to connect with young people through probation connected programming while also expanding how we engage with them creatively. Along with guitar instruction, this program creates space for songwriting and other forms of musical expression, which opens up new ways for students to share their stories and experiences through music. That part especially excites me.

One of the most meaningful moments of this year came through the Vita Ensemble and our opportunity to perform at the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) conference, a gathering of youth advocates and professionals from across the state. 

Two students in our programs represented this work beautifully. Student A completed his program over a year ago, and Student B completed hers just a few months ago through our partnership with Judge Hernandez and the Transformative Youth Justice Program. Student B also became the first student to successfully complete our work through that partnership, which felt like an important milestone. 

What made this especially meaningful was that both of them chose to continue showing up and remain part of Vita. That represents something bigger than successful program completion. It speaks to connection, trust, and belonging. 

At TNOYS, both students shared parts of their journey, performed individual solos, and then came together as an ensemble. Watching them speak confidently in front of that room was incredibly moving. The standing ovation they received was special, but more than anything it was a powerful reminder of what is possible. 

Another story that stands out from this year comes from Gardner Betts. We faced many hurdles there that tested both the strength of the program and the commitment of the students. At one point, it seemed possible that we would lose guitar at the campus altogether. After many conversations, advocacy, and strong support from Mr. Brashear, we found a path forward. 

The students made an incredible sacrifice by giving up part of their lunch period to keep guitar alive. Even though this shortened both their lunch and our class time, they showed up every week eager and ready to learn. Initially, because the class took place during lunch, we were told the course could no longer remain for credit. That was difficult, especially after all the work we had done the year before to preserve that status. Still, we felt keeping the group and relationship alive mattered most. After continued conversations and advocacy, we were ultimately able to secure for credit status once again in the Spring semester. That felt like a huge win. 

Even though we were not able to have an end of year concert, we were still able to capture a recording of the group performing Found a Friend, which I am grateful to be able to share. There was another special moment with this group that stands out. When I returned from winter break, the students were excited to show me something they had been working on. During our time away, they had taken Blue Magic and rearranged it into something completely their own. 

What stood out most was not just the creativity of what they made, but the fact that they cared enough about the music and about each other to keep thinking about it beyond class. They were eager to share it and immediately started talking about wanting to record it. Unfortunately, we were not able to capture Majestic Blue this year, but my colleague Francisco, the Vita members, and I are currently working on recording their arrangement, and I look forward to sharing it once it is complete. 

There were many other meaningful moments throughout the year. In Austin’s Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program secure day school, we experienced enough growth to add a second group this year, which was exciting to see. At Williamson County (WilCo), students participated in documentary filming, and one thing that stood out was how they wanted to share that experience together.

When it came time for interviews, they preferred staying together as a group rather than going into a separate room one at a time. In a moment that could have felt intimidating and vulnerable, they found comfort and courage in each other. That said so much about the trust and bond they had built as a group. 

This year, all six of our performing groups across Central and North Texas received Division 1 ratings at the North Texas Concert and Sight Reading Contest, which felt like a huge accomplishment and a strong reflection of the consistency and growth happening across all of our sites. 

Another important development this year was the collaboration with our Production Director, Todd, around recordings and audio production. His support added a completely new layer to the work by helping us capture our groups with a level of quality we had not been able to achieve before. That support played an important role in contest recordings, performance recordings, and in preserving meaningful musical moments from our students. 

One moment that stands out came during our WilCo end of year performance, where we were able to place four guitars directly into students’ hands. Watching them leave that performance with instruments of their own felt incredibly special. 

One final moment that stands out came during a visit I made to Brownsville. I had the opportunity to meet with Hilda Ledezma from Revival of Cultural Arts and learn about their new court connected initiative. During our conversation, she shared that she had been seriously considering stepping away from the program because they were unsure of how to move forward and felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the work. 

After hearing more about their goals and challenges, I shared some thoughts from our own experience. Later that day, I worked with their teachers and students, and by the end of the session we were playing through Blue Magic together. Hilda shared that the visit gave her renewed hope and reaffirmed her belief in the work they were building. That conversation was a beautiful reminder of how important relationships and shared learning are in this work. Sometimes simply being able to share what we have learned can help someone keep moving forward. 

More than anything, this year reminded me how much this work depends on people showing up for one another. This work is only possible because of the support, trust, and collaboration across so many parts of ACG. From leadership, to operations, to teaching artists and program support, each of you plays an important role in making this work possible. 

Thank you for continuing to believe in this work, in me, and in the young people we serve. I feel deeply grateful to be part of this team and excited about what lies ahead. 

With gratitude, 

Hector

Listen to Found a Friend here:

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: