ACGYO Give Tour on Film!
Recognized as one of the most outstanding ensembles of its kind, the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra (ACGYO) is an auditioned ensemble of exceptional young guitarists from Austin, Texas. Under the direction of Dr. Joe Williams, the ACGYO has performed for thousands in Austin’s most prestigious venues and in guest appearances at The San Francisco Conservatory, Outpost Performance Space (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Las Torres de Cotillas Flamenco Festival (Murcia, Spain) and the Antonio de Torres Museo de la Guitarra (Almeria, Spain).
Our members are Kritanko Chakraborty, Satvik Chawla, Eleanora Mason, Teddy McCoy, Noah Melendrez, Kian Mitchell, Nima Moin, Miles Notzon, Greg Sonnier Archith Venkatagiri, & Jianna Zamora with Director Joe Williams & Assistant ACGYO Director Alex Lew.
Learn more here. Support the ACGYO here.
This spring, the ACG Youth Orchestra went on a beautiful tour across West Texas, driven by a simple but powerful idea: the act of giving is a cause for celebration.
As part of ACG’s 2024–25 season, GIVE, these extraordinary young musicians traveled to Fredericksburg, Alpine, Marfa, and San Antonio, using their talents 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 stop was Big Bend National Park, where they filmed a stunning music video at the Rio Grande in Boquillas Canyon. The experience included a hike, a swim, and a whole lot of joy.
Not only that, but a documentary was even put together about this wondrous experience, directed by Nick Hurt. It’s filled with breathtaking scenery, gorgeous music, and heartfelt reflections from the artists and we’re so excited to share it with you.
Inspired by our 2024-25 season theme, GIVE, and guided by the belief that music can be a powerful catalyst for acceptance, hope, and joy, this tour celebrated the idea of the gifts that each of us can choose to share and an invitation to notice how these gifts transform over the course of our lives.
Throughout the journey, members of the ACGYO reflected on what it means to give, to grow, and to share.
“...I love giving in every opportunity I get, that’s how I show love really. I think it's powerful… That's why we live right? It's all about community as humans” - Noah Melendrez
Watch the full documentary and hear more from the ACGYO members below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpWEObvn_oc
Whether in song, friendship, or a moment of reflection beneath desert skies, these young artists offered their gifts with open hearts and we’re so proud to share their story with you.
Thank you for being part of our community and sharing your gifts of presence, support, and joy along the way.
This journey would not have been possible without the incredible support of so many generous partners and friends:
Production support for this music video is generously provided by
Monkee-Boy Web Design, ACG’s web development partner for over twenty years
Huge thank you to our production team:
Nick Hurt, Video Director
Nicolas Westerlink & Ashton Haines, Video Crew
Todd Waldron & Dan Childers, Audio engineers
Jordan Sanchez, ACG Coordinator
Special thanks to Mayor Jeryl Hoover & The Fredericksburg Theater Company, Katie Kizzar & Rachel Fuechsl at the McDonald Observatory Haley Levin, Sensorea & The Chinati Foundation, Dr. Andrew Alegria at Sul Ross University, Leon Paczkowski, Paul Stautinger & Austin Community College as well as Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, Dr. Matthew Dasco, Eve Crawford White, Jeremy Powley & UT Health San Antonio.
A Sense of Purpose: Growing ACG Juvenile Justice Services
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. Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.
For over a decade, ACG has offered guitar classes in central Texas juvenile justice facilities, giving young people meaningful tools for expression, connection, and growth during some of the most difficult 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 unclear. They return to their home schools or communities, often without consistent support or opportunities to continue the creative journey they began with ACG.
However, this year we have successfully developed the beginning of something incredible!
After three years of dreaming, planning, and persistent effort, we launched a Juvenile Justice Post-Engagement Program—a long-term support system designed to help young people continue their musical journey beyond the justice system. Through this program, ACG connects graduates of juvenile justice programs with one-on-one instruction at their public school programs, rehearsal space at The Rosette for ensembles outside of school, and new performance opportunities.
This year, the program began with two extraordinary students, referred through the probation department and JJAEP.
Last weekend, these two incredible young men performed at The Rosette and spoke with us about their experiences.
Our Director of Juvenile Justice Education, Hector Aguilar, shared a bit about the start of this program,
“This year we got student referrals from the probation department in their search for programs that see graduates be successful rather than just fulfill court mandates.
Our goal is to have their monthly rehearsals become weekly and to host community concerts and essentially this will replace any community service requirements that they need to fulfill.
So with that being said, we’re here to celebrate two incredible young men. They have shown us what is possible when real talent meets effort and when a little structure and support is met with real courage and commitment. I'm very proud of these two students. They represent the heart of why we do what we do, why ACG believes in long term relationships, in second chances, in the power that music has to connect people to uplift and to transform. So today we’re here to honor their journey, their growth and the beauty that they bring to this world through their music.”
On stage with Hector was one of the teaching artists that works closely with students in these programs, Francisco De La Rosa. He shared:
“I want highlight the courage these two young men possess. Being so young, getting here at The Rosette on Saturdays by public transportation is a lot of responsibility. I know at that age I couldn’t navigate the city that way and it takes a few bus stops to get here but they make it happen because they love what they do. I appreciate their dedication to this program.”
Both students took the stage to perform solo guitar pieces they had worked on throughout the year. And both shared their stories on the power of music and the strength it takes to change.
The first student connected with ACG at an alternative school, he shared how this connection began for him,
“I really liked the instructor, Mr. Aguilar is pretty cool. He has some jokes here and there, he even had the jeopardy fail on the guitar so that kind of piqued my interest. I resonated with the group in a way because I was watching people play guitar since I was a kid but I never had a way to learn but I managed to turn my mistake into an opportunity and I got to play guitar with these people. My experience with them was pretty cool. It gave me a sense of purpose in a way, it made me believe that I can be more than my mistakes and it allowed me to make new friends.”
For the second student, the guitar became a way for him to overcome some personal hurdles, he shared,
“Once I completed my anger management treatment, I thought of ways that could help me process my feelings and I thought maybe guitar could. I already kind of knew how to play but I opened myself up to learn more. I decided to apply for ACG’s classes and we learned how to read music and basic things and now, I find it pretty easy. When they give me a harder piece to learn I'm now able to get it done in like two-three weeks. No matter what, I keep trying and practicing. And now when I get angry, I try to cool down a bit and pick up the guitar and play pieces that make me feel relaxed so I feel proud that I made it this far and I'm still looking forward to getting better and enjoying life.”
Over time, both students grew in skill and confidence. They learned complex pieces. They performed in front of their peers, families, and former teachers. They even began to see futures for themselves that once felt out of reach.
They each shared how being in this program helped them in their lives outside of guitar, here’s what they said:
Student 1: “When we played as an ensemble together at the Pleasant Hill Library earlier this year, I was really proud. I managed to make my mom smile.
At school this program helped me become a better leader to my peers, and I don't want to sound braggy but I played better than most of my peers so that helped me not only push them further but actually help them if they needed it.
It helped me grow as a person. At home, it brought me closer to my little brother because he always wanted to learn the guitar but neither of us knew how, so now I at least know a little bit to pass down to him. I made my mother proud of me again. I messed up and got here but I managed to come back from it, maybe not stronger but I managed to recuperate little by little. It helped build that aspect of a family and even if he might not show it a lot, I know it made my dad proud of me again also. He lets me know I'm doing better and in my eyes that's a great gift.”
Student 2: “This experience really helped me control my anger. Before I used to argue and fight and just make bad decisions but now I find myself to be a lot more relaxed, positive, and a jokester. I see a huge difference. Originally being so negative, having anger issues, just not caring about what other people said, Im different now. I feel proud that I have people that try to give me life-advice like my teachers. I take advantage of it because I don’t really get that much from my parents because I'm not that open with them. I feel pretty proud about how my life is right now, I have good friends and teachers and I get to be me in a positive way.”
Student 1 ended the conversation with some beautiful advice that he would give himself and others who were just starting their journey with the guitar,
“Good things take time. You’re not going to get it right away, especially if you’re a beginner but don't forget to do your spider exercises and have fun with it. Try to do what you can to the best of your ability. You’re gonna get it eventually.”
At ACG, we believe in second chances. We believe in relationships that last. And most of all, we believe in the power of music to help people reconnect—to themselves, to their families, and to the world around them.
This new program is just the beginning. But thanks to these two young men—and the many others who will follow—it’s already a beautiful beginning.
We’re proud of these young artists, we’re proud of our dedicated and driven team of educators, and we’re grateful for the community of supporters who make this work possible.
Learn more about ACG Juvenile Justice Education here.
Finding Harmony as a First Year Teacher
As the school year wraps up, we’re reflecting on many remarkable stories from our Education programs, the heart of ACG.
We serve public school teachers all across the US. Many times choir, orchestra or band directors step into the role of guitar teacher to reach more students, or to fill a need, and that’s a place where our staff, curriculum, and kindness can make all the difference.
Learn more about ACG Education here. Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.
When you walk into the guitar classroom at Farley Middle School in Hutto ISD, you can hear the sound of discovery, of chords coming together, and of students taking ownership of their music. At the heart of it all is a first-year teacher, Isabella Anderson, who stepped into the unknown with courage and found something extraordinary.
This past January, just a few weeks after graduating with a choral music degree, Isabella, a brand-new teacher, joined the Farley Middle School faculty. With no formal guitar training and a fresh diploma in hand, she began teaching both choir and guitar. It was a bold beginning!
Isabella shares,
“This year has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I was nervous stepping into a role of a subject I had no background in, as a first-year teacher. The support from my students, admin, and from ACG really helped make it a smoother transition than I expected, and the encouragement and guidance helped me grow quickly and created a learning environment that felt collaborative and supportive from day one.”
Isabella and her students recently had their spring concert and wow! They really blew us out of the water.
“The highlight of the year was undoubtedly our spring concert. For many of the beginner students, it was the first concert they had ever performed in. The students were proud and excited to show off to their parents all that they had learned in such a short time. Travis even noted how impressed he was by how much one of our beginner classes had accomplished, especially considering I was learning right alongside them at times!
Since my choir students were having their “pops” concert, featuring student-chosen solos, I wanted to create a similar experience for my guitar students- something that gave them ownership and creative freedom. An 8th grade student of mine, Abel, played “Five Years” by David Bowie, with vocals. Abel is an incredibly talented student and sometimes would teach guitar to the beginner classes during the fall semester before I arrived.”
As the school year comes to a close, this first-year teacher is already looking ahead with excitement! Isabella shares,
“After a strong, successful year, I am looking forward to building on this momentum and foundation we’ve laid. I’m especially excited to continue growing as a guitarist myself and to foster even more student leadership- particularly from returning students who can serve as role models and mentors for next year’s beginners.”
We are so grateful for the teachers we get to work and interact with everyday. Every day, your dedication, creativity, and passion shape not just your students’ musical journeys, but their confidence and sense of community. We’re grateful for those who have no experience with guitar prior but push themselves to learn alongside their students and still produce successful, beautiful, and driven music in the classroom.
Thank you for another successful year. Thank you for being on this journey with us.
GIVE: Together We Bring Beauty into the World
There’s something remarkable about watching music pass through generations. Not just in the notes themselves, but in the way passion, wisdom, and connection are handed down, shaping lives along the way.
A year in the making, GIVE was a radiant testament to the spirit of generosity between generations, across cultures, and through music itself.
Earlier this month, our 2024-25 Season, GIVE, came to a close with a remarkable concert.
Inspired by our season theme: Give, brought together the legendary Pepe Romero, ACG’s Artist-in-Residence, with nine young guitarists from Austin to perform in three quartets where Pepe joined as the fourth member performing music written and performed by the Romero family.
The Give Quartets featured The Palmer Trio with Paul Devens, Noah Melendrez & Kian Mitchell The Orpheus Trio: Satvik Chawla, Allen Liu & Brandon Kim, and The Baker 3: Jianna Zamora, Teddy McCoy & Greg Sonnier.
They were coached by teaching artists Joseph Palmer, Stephen Krishnan & Alex Lew with support from Joe Williams, Travis Marcum & Tony Mariano over the past year. For the concerts themselves, these dedicated mentors stepped aside, and Pepe Romero joined in their place.
The concerts were breathtaking, a radiant testament to the spirit of generosity between mentors and students, parents and children, generations and cultures. Not only did these young artists share music with one of the greatest living legends of classical guitar, but they did so through the very repertoire created and passed down through Pepe’s own family.
After the final concert, we gathered with the ensembles and Maestro Romero to reflect and celebrate. Among the moving words shared were reflections from the students themselves.
Noah Melendrez, a member of the Palmer Trio, reflected with,
“This has been probably the coolest thing I have ever done. It was about nine months ago that I got a random email from ACG mentioning working with Pepe Romero and I was in disbelief. Over the past year, I loved working with my quartet and it’s really bittersweet being here now at the end of this project and looking back on it. I've gotten to know people better and spend more time with people I haven’t spent more time with already and I will never forget this. This was so special so thank you.”
His ensemble mate, Kian Mitchell, added:
“Last august, we sat down and began playing together and it was amazing how quickly we started communicating between each other and our mentor, Joseph Palmer. It was a lot of fun learning the music in general, but so much fun to collaborate together to make it our own. When we met Pepe for this first time in October, it enhanced our connection with the music even more by understanding the story behind what we were playing. This experience overall helped me become a better musician and communicator and I'm grateful.”
And then, Maestro Pepe Romero shared something unforgettable.
“I have been for a long time completely passionate about the work that’s been done by Austin Classical Guitar. When we started talking about doing the residency and deciding what that was going to be, I don’t remember how we came to the details of forming the guitar quartets, but for me—this came at a very important time.
In 1961, my family and I started the first classical guitar quartet, and we have continued to perform together ever since. Due to my brother’s health challenges recently, we were unsure that we would still be able to play our next concert. But from hearing this music—you playing this music—he was inspired to continue.
I’ve been a soloist and quartet member my whole life, and I think playing in guitar ensembles is so unique and beautiful because everyone is doing exactly the same thing, but creating something so much bigger than ourselves.
When I was a child, I was listening to my father play music written by Francisco Tárrega’s students. That tradition has continued—Tárrega, his students, my father, me, and now, you. You are the fifth generation of that Spanish tradition. And you have beautifully understood and expressed Spanish music not just technically, but emotionally—with your heart, your ideas, your stories.
I hope I’ve helped guide you to see that every note you play should carry a piece of your soul. Whether it's the right note or a wrong one doesn’t matter—what matters is the intention. Each of you has done this brilliantly throughout the entire process. I have connected with each of your hearts, and I will carry a part of each of you in mine.
I hope the memory of this project, and of working with me, helps you love music. Never fear it. Music is here to heal us. Music is here to uplift us. Whether you're in front of an audience, in an ensemble, or playing alone in your home—let your music always bring beauty and love into the world.
I have done this for many years. Now it is your turn. Carry it into the future. Don’t lose the purity that’s in your hearts right now. Make that purity become sound—become phrases—become music.
Preparation is important, yes—but we prepare with a purpose. To carry a deeper meaning. To heal, to give hope, to show gratitude, and to bring out the best in each other.
I think these four concerts have done that for all of us—me included. I hope you have learned from me at least a portion of what I have learned from you. And I love you all, very much.”
It was a profound way to close our season. The Give Quartets project was about far more than performance. It was about legacy. About connection. And most of all, it was about the deep, transformative power of music passed from one heart to another.
From all of us at ACG, thank you for being part of this journey.
Watch all nine students perform with Pepe in this piece, EL VITO
https://youtu.be/pXYmaCEzbxM?feature=shared
GIVE: Sharing Music Through the Generations
There’s something remarkable about watching music pass through generations. Not just in the notes themselves, but in the way passion, wisdom, and connection are handed down, shaping lives along the way.
This weekend, our season finale will celebrate exactly that. Inspired by our season theme: Give, is the centerpiece of our season that brings together the legendary Pepe Romero, ACG’s Artist-in-Residence, with nine young guitarists from Austin to perform in three quartets where Pepe joins as the fourth member performing music written and performed by the Romero family.
A year in the making, GIVE is a radiant testament to the spirit of generosity between generations, across cultures, and through music itself. Watch the livestream here.
Every once in a while, a project comes along that feels truly extraordinary; where the power of music, the generosity of mentorship, and the beauty of human connection all shine at once. Our season finale this weekend is one of those projects.
As we look forward to GIVE, the culmination of our 2024–25 season, we had the chance this week to speak with one of the young performers, Paul, and his father, Robert. Two voices on either side of a remarkable journey that has unfolded over the past year.
Paul is one of nine exceptional young guitarists from Austin who have spent the year preparing for this moment: performing alongside the legendary Pepe Romero, ACG’s Artist-in-Residence, in three original guitar quartets.
The Give Quartets feature The Palmer Trio with Paul Devens, Noah Melendrez & Kian Mitchell The Orpheus Trio: Satvik Chawla, Allen Liu & Brandon Kim, and The Baker 3: Jianna Zamora, Teddy McCoy & Greg Sonnier.
They were coached by teaching artists Joseph Palmer, Stephen Krishnan & Alex Lew with support from Joe Williams, Travis Marcum & Tony Mariano over the past year but will be replaced with Pepe himself as the fourth member for this weekend’s shows.
For Robert, a lifelong guitarist who’s played for fun since he was seven, watching his son Paul step into an opportunity like this has been deeply meaningful.
“It makes me feel incredibly proud,” he shared, “especially knowing how much he’s put into it; balancing quartet rehearsals, private lessons, and school. The chance to perform with Pepe is definitely the major milestone so far.”
Pepe is, of course, an icon in the classical guitar world, and worked closely with nine of Austin’s most dedicated young guitarists in the fall and again this week in preparation for this weekends concerts. Paul describes the experience as transformative,
“While it has been a lot of work involving weekly rehearsals and extra music to work on, preparing and playing with my quartet has been lots of fun. Seeing our hard work come together to produce beautiful music has been extremely rewarding.
When we played together with Pepe for the first time, everything clicked in a very satisfying way. Cues weren’t even needed, we simply let the music speak for itself, and all the gestures we intended to make came into focus.
My favorite thing about this experience by far is the unspoken connection between the musicians. There is an electricity that all members of an ensemble feel when they are truly playing together and listening to the music they are making. That connection is completely unique.”
This weekend’s performances are the culmination of a year-long project rooted in our season theme: Give. It’s a radiant testament to the spirit of generosity, between mentors and students, parents and children, generations and cultures. Not only are these students connecting and sharing music with one of the biggest guitar legends in the world, but the music they’ll be performing comes from the Romero family’s own legacy! Compositions passed down and now passed on.
Robert put it best:
“I’m really looking forward to hearing how beautifully everything comes together! The shows they did with Pepe in the fall were amazing to me, as were the practice performances at the Ruiz library last weekend with their teachers. I know that the shows this weekend with Pepe will be an incredible experience of music and emotion. I know this experience will have a lasting effect on Paul’s musicianship and life more generally. The benefits will last far beyond the shows this weekend.”
Unfortunately, this concert is SOLD OUT. But we will be live-streaming the Saturday, May 3 8pm show! RSVP to watch here.
Celebrating 25 Years of Community Ensembles!
This year marks 25 years of Austin Classical Guitar’s Community Ensembles, a program that began with a small group of passionate guitarists and has grown into a vibrant, multi-generational family of musicians who meet weekly to rehearse, connect, and share the joy of ensemble music-making!
Join us tomorrow, April 26, in celebration of the 25th year anniversary of ACG Community Ensembles at St Martin's Lutheran Church at 8pm! At the heart of the program is the premiere of Superheroes!, a bold and imaginative new piece inspired by the Marvel universe composed by the critically acclaimed composer and founder of Golden Hornet, Graham Reynolds. This new work is inspired by the Marvel Universe and was commissioned by ACG to commemorate this special anniversary of our ensembles with the support of Karrie & Tim League and Richard Linklater & Detour Filmproduction. RSVP here.
Learn more about our Community Ensembles here. Support ACG here.
Our Community Ensembles include players from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and skill levels, and over the years they’ve performed everything from Bach to brand new works written just for them. At the heart of this program is the simple idea that playing music with others brings people together. And it has, season after season, for 25 years.
To celebrate this milestone, we sat down with three longtime members, John Garcia, Raj Randeri, and Jay Clement, who have each been long time members in the ensembles! Their reflections reveal the deep impact this program has had on individuals and the community at large.
John joined the ACG Community Ensemble around 2004, after a childhood surrounded by music and years of private study in jazz, classical, and fingerstyle guitar. What kept him coming back season after season?
“The ensemble is many things. It's a way for me to stay connected to my family background, and it's the band room experience I didn't have in school,” he shared. “It’s also a great opportunity for an amateur player like myself to be part of something larger; resembling a Community or Civic Orchestra, but for guitars!”
For Raj, who began playing rock and metal guitar in junior high before discovering classical guitar through Segovia and lessons at UT Austin, the joy has been both musical and social.
“I have really enjoyed the friends that I have made through the ensemble,”
When we asked what stood out as particularly meaningful across their years in the group, all three members shared powerful memories,
Jay recalled Austin Pictures, a major production with the Miro Quartet, Eduardo Fernandez, and a massive guitar orchestra conducted by Maestro Peter Bay.
“It was inspiring watching Maestro Bay conduct,” Jay said. “And to be a part of such great music... It was my first exposure to Dr. Joe Williams, who has since become a friend and colleague.”
Raj remembered an unforgettable rehearsal moment from Presence, ACG’s 2024 season centerpiece.
“During the first large rehearsal for To the Sky with the singers, it was magical,” he said. “We were all looking at each other while we were playing, just amazed at how beautiful it sounded. It gave me chills. At the end of the piece, you could tell everyone felt the same way. We were all stunned.”
For John, the most remarkable moments came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the ensemble moved online and continued to rehearse and grow.
“The COVID years stand out the most because this group stuck together online over video for two seasons,” he reflected. “That ACG attracted people to join a virtual guitar ensemble and stick with it says a lot about what ACG built with this program and their dedication to it.”
Each of these guitarists emphasized not only the joy of playing, but the relationships they’ve built along the way.
“I get most of my musical joy from collaborating with others,” Jay said. “A lifetime of being in choirs and singalongs has prepared me to listen and blend—this is my element. I’ve made many lasting friendships through the Ensemble, and that is the most precious thing of all.”
As we look back on 25 years of music, friendship, and growth, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible individuals who’ve helped shape this program—from our first members, to our newest ones, to the many teaching artists, composers, and conductors who’ve inspired us along the way.
Here’s to the next 25 years!
This Saturday, April 26, we are celebrating this quarter decade with a big spectacular concert at St Martin's Lutheran Church at 8pm!
The program is the premiere of Superheroes!, a bold and imaginative new piece inspired by the Marvel universe composed by the critically acclaimed composer and founder of Golden Hornet, Graham Reynolds. This new work is inspired by the Marvel Universe and was commissioned by ACG to commemorate this special anniversary of our ensembles with the support of Karrie & Tim League and Richard Linklater & Detour Filmproduction. RSVP here.
We happen to have a SNEAK PEAK of one of the movements!
The ACG Youth Orchestra went on tour in March and recorded Graham's Powerman in Big Bend National Park and we just finished post production this week.
Check out these amazing young people performing next to the Rio Grande River with vistas of Mexico and the U.S. Huge thanks to Nick Hurt for the support in making this happen!
https://youtu.be/7YlQQan2gIY
Concert & Sight Reading: Austin!
We dream of a world where music is here for everyone, connecting us, inspiring us, and bringing joy and meaning wherever it goes. It’s because of our community and supporters that we are able to share stories like this.
Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.
Education is at the center of our service here at ACG and we are grateful to continue to grow and share in moments of inspiration with teachers and students everyday.
In 2012, ACG in collaboration with Austin ISD, built the first Large Guitar Ensemble Concert and Sight Reading Contest. Structured after UIL competitions, students and teachers from Middle and High School guitar programs across the state gather at the beautiful Austin ISD Performing Arts Center to perform concerts they have worked hard on throughout the year and test their music sight reading abilities as an ensemble.
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.
We had our Austin Concert and Sight Reading competition just earlier this week! It was so moving to see the transformation of nerves and jitters to cheers and pride after each group successfully moved through each rehearsal space, performance, and judging room.
Here are some beautiful moments from this years Concert and Sight Reading! Photos by Christina Castro.
Together with Eric Briones
One of our favorite things about music is the time it creates for togetherness. Listening and playing together gives us experiences we share as if we’re one, over time that can turn into relationships, friendships, trust, and treasured memories.
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.
This week, we had the opportunity to connect with an inspiring young man, Xavier Eric Briones.
Eric is a high school senior, he’s an ACG Javier Niño scholarship recipient who was just accepted into all four music schools where he applied, and he already has so much to teach us all!
We met Eric in our AISD public school programs but prior to this, he was already dabbling in teaching himself how to play the guitar, and a multitude of other instruments. He grew up in a low-income household and had to learn some difficult lessons early on in his youth. He shares,
“Guitar came to me as a mere coincidence through school. As time went on I took it seriously 2 years ago. What really brought me to it, was the love for music and how much I could express myself with it. Playing as if I was performing felt amazing, and the strive to get better kept me going. Although, I had no teacher so I was self taught and I ended up just giving up on guitar as a dream goal until I met my guitar director, Ms.Meredith, who helped me develop the goal to continue it as a career. Although I come from a really low income household, I worked hard to get to where I am now.
I grew up as a “delinquent,” and overall a “bad kid.” I didn’t have much guidance in life for a long time. From doing things I shouldn’t have done as a kid to getting in a position where I have a legal record, I overcame a lot of stuff in life. I was able to keep going, because of the desire to help my family one day.
I always had a lot of people tell me I would do horrible in life, and I love to prove people wrong. I grew up homeless. I was born on the street, from house hopping to house hopping. I’m grateful to God and my mother for working so hard to get to where we are today. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be able to get to this point in my life. As a juvenile delinquent, no matter where you are in life, and what your status is. You can do right in the world, as long as you put your mind to it and DO IT. Don’t just say it.. DO IT. It’s all in the mind, and the drive to do great things.”
Eric has a deep compassion for community and people who don’t have the privilege of 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. He shared a beautiful sentiment,
“The guitar provides great opportunities to help students who really love music no matter the circumstances. I want to use this instrument to make an impact on the world and eventually help people who face struggles through music therapy. Because no matter what you have going on, you can still make it far in the world with the right guidance, and I believe, I can provide that guidance and support. I want the world to know, I won’t see them as a regular person I have to work with, but as family and someone you can talk to, for guidance.
I learned early on that I love to help people but when I realized I could do it with music, it inspired me. My goal is to make an impact. My future with guitar and plans in life is very simple, to make an impact on the world and upcoming generations of people. I don’t care about being the best guitarist, or musician. Simply to be the best leader I can be and an inspiration to others in the world.”
Eric is already doing amazing things within our community. Just this year, he began working with several students from our Juvenile Justice Long Term Engagement program. In fact, he performed with them in their very first public performance just earlier this week! Their ensemble is called the VITA Quartet. Eric shares more about this work,
“I saw VITA or also known as JJE Education Group, because I came across an email from the subscription ACG Email Website, with something about Juvenile Justice Education Guitar Group, being highlighted. With having a criminal background myself, it sparked my interest because I want to make an impact with people in my community that I relate to and who may not see what the future can bring.
So I joined VITA/JJE, as a mentor, to give the kids guidance, and hope to show them that there are options out there to do good in the world and make it far. Of course I also teach them the basics of guitar.
The concert earlier this week went great. And when the South Austin Guitar Ensemble played after us, two of the students I sat next to loved to see how great musicians can be and it was wonderful seeing the students so focused and nervous at the concert because it shows how much they care about it. These kids seriously love music, and it was awesome to see them super into it.”
Looking forward, Eric plans on attending the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida in the Fall to study Music Therapy and potentially double major in Music Education.
“I don’t plan to retire from this path until I’m unable to walk. The feelings that drive all of this are love and passion.”
We’re so grateful to connect with such talented people in our community and continue to create beautiful music and experiences with them. And we look forward to sharing more stories like these with you!
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.
A Synchronistic Moment: Meet Matthew Lyons & Besa Carney
We dream of a world where music is here for everyone, connecting us, inspiring us, and bringing joy and meaning wherever it goes. It’s because of our community and supporters that we are able to share stories like this.
Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.
As we reflect on our 2024–25 season, GIVE, we’re filled with gratitude for the many extraordinary moments and gifts we’ve shared with our community. One memory, in particular, stands out. Not just because it was dazzling and ambitious, but because it represented something profoundly full circle!
This past February, two very special projects happened simultaneously, each highlighting the extraordinary journey of young people we met through our education programs, from their very first notes to taking the stage as professional artists and composers.
On one side of town, in partnership with our friends at Austin Chamber Music Center, we presented a brand-new live score for the 1925 silent film classic The Phantom of the Opera, performed alongside Lon Chaney’s haunting portrayal of the masked figure lurking beneath the Paris Opera House. The breathtaking new score was written by Matthew Lyons, an Austin-based composer and guitarist who first crossed our path through ACG’s work with AISD at Anderson High School; back before we were really established in the school district!
Now, years later, Matthew returned to ACG as a professional artist, leading a dream team of performers—his Moontower Guitar Duo partner Stephen Krishnan, violinist Sandy Yamamoto, and cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins—through 90 minutes of heart-pounding, live-performed music that breathed fresh life into a cinematic masterpiece.
Meanwhile, another chapter of someone’s musical story was being written. This one at the very beginning of its arc!
Bowie High School senior Besa Carney, a longtime student in our education programs, was preparing to debut her very first guitar duet composition as part of our play! series. She spent weeks working with our Director of Education, Travis Marcum, and world renown guitarist Randall Avers, on one of her very early compositions in her career which she later got to perform with Randy by her side on stage!
We had the pleasure of speaking with both Matthew and Besa!
Although Matthew was never directly a student of ACG, he was very connected with our community! He shares,
“I went to Anderson which didn’t have a classical guitar program at the time, my journey with the guitar began because I studied privately with Steve Kostelnik in middle/high school. However, growing up playing classical guitar in Austin, ACG provided many opportunities to perform and get to know other like-minded musicians. After leaving to study in San Francisco for a few years and then returning to Austin, many of my musical projects have been fostered by ACG, from writing a guitar trio to be performed in James Turrell’s Skyspace by students from ACG’s Education program, to writing the score for Phantom. Even with smaller projects, there’s such a strong sense of community in this org that I always inevitably end up making new connections with people, and these connections can often grow organically into the next project.
Being a part of this creative ecosystem has been such a privilege and has shaped the way that I view artistic “success”. Being successful is often associated with quantitative measures – how many concerts you play, how many views your videos have, how many followers you have, how many awards you’ve won, etc. I’ve learned through working with ACG over the years that a more meaningful definition of success as a musician can be the depth of creative connections you make over time. There’s something special about getting to build meaningfully on previous projects, establishing a rapport with more and more people in your community while you witness it grow at the same time, and knowing that what you’ve created or helped create is truly “of a place”. Having a sense of home as an artist is vital, an ACG has become that home for me.”
Diving into the massive project that was Phantom of the Opera, Matthew shared a beautiful statement about the process of creating that gorgeous composition,
“Writing 90 minutes of music over a year to be performed live with a film felt like a marathon. Although it seemed like I had plenty of time when Joe proposed the idea in February 2024, I began writing as soon as I could because I knew that it would take hundreds of hours to create something of that scope. The silver lining to that constant pressure over a long period of time was that I didn’t have the usual opportunity to second-guess my work – if I wasn’t entirely happy with a section, I just had to move on and come back to it if I had time. This forced me to trust my instinct more, and in fact having more material to work with sooner gave me more time to see how it all connected at a larger scale. Since I was writing music for a well established film, much was already decided for me. Factors such as pacing, mood, and character development were already inherent in the movie, and it was my job to amplify what was already working!
A challenge to scoring a silent film in general is that the music – being the only sonic element – ends up having an outsized role compared to contemporary film scoring. Acting from the silent film era tends to have exaggerated gestures and facial expressions to make up for the lack of audible dialogue, and it’s hard to know when these gestures are begging for music to accompany them – almost as a duet partner – or when it’s better to let the music percolate in the background at the larger service of the entire scene.
Since people already have the option of watching The Phantom in many different formats, I felt emboldened to write something completely different from what they might expect, although it was difficult to resist the temptation to borrow ideas from these other soundtracks! Ultimately, the great asset of this project was that performing the score live added a dimension to the experience that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
The week of the performances made me realize what an incredible feat of human coordination was required to make this project happen. It was a true honor to watch such talented humans work together to make this insane tightrope-walk of a concert actually work somehow, from the performers to the tech crew.
The last thing I’ll mention is how fun it was to play melodica on stage with Stephen (a melodica is a keyboard-like instrument that you blow into with a mouthpiece or tube – kind of sounds like an accordion but a lot easier to play). I wasn’t sure how I’d handle playing under pressure on an instrument I had just started playing several months before, but it ended up being one of the funnest parts!”
We asked what kind of advice would Matthew, now as a professional musician and composer, give to someone at the beginning of their journey, like Besa. Here’s what he shared:
“There are so many things to say, so I’ll make a list:
Write music that is true to yourself. Don’t worry about trying to impress people – there will always be people who love what you write, and people who don’t. In the end, the most impressive music is that which sounds authentic, and if you write for yourself, it will be. Lean strongly into your influences and learn as much as you can from the music you love. Don’t be afraid to let those influences show in your music. Over time, your individual voice will diffuse throughout your work the way a drop of dye can color an entire glass of water.
Don’t let composing be an isolated activity. Share your work with as many people as possible and try to work directly with the musician(s) who will play your music. This is an incredible way to sharpen your skills and make lifelong connections. As soon as you can, find those few people you trust most to give you supportive and honest feedback, and lean on them when you need advice or affirmation (we all do). Be your peers’ biggest fan. When you show people genuine support, it finds its way back to you.
Identify your artistic strengths and nurture them. Don’t define yourself by your perceived weaknesses. Composing is a lot like digging for gold – you have to sift through a lot of dirt to get to the good stuff. The sooner you get started and the longer you work, the closer you get to finding those few truly good ideas, so learn to appreciate your discarded ideas as a necessary part of the process. Having a compelling artistic voice comes from living life fully. Strike a balance between doing those things that make you a better artist and those things that make you more than just an artist, because sometimes they are one and the same. In the end, being a composer is more a constant action than a state of being. You might only ever feel like a “composer” when you’re composing, and that’s okay!
And finally, take time to feel proud of your work!”
We have come to know Besa Carney deeply through our Education programs! We met Besa when she was in middle school and participated in our Youth Camerata ensemble and we have followed her musical journey during her high school years at Bowie. She shares,
“Being involved with ACG has really enriched my musical capability to not just perform guitar, but to work with others which is such an important skill for people to have! I also had a guitar ensemble piece of mine premiered in New Mexico on our trip there, which was amazing! I am super blessed for all of the opportunities ACG has given me!”
Besa’s composition journey started at a very young age, beginning in 6th grade! She dives deeper,
“I initially composed for the first time in 6th grade when my mom’s birthday was coming up and I didn’t have any money, so I made her a 8 measure piano song. It was really bad, but my mom said she loved it. Then towards the end of middle school I started composing more, and I really liked it!
I have performed and gotten my compositions performed several times, but the one I composed this year was my first guitar duet piece.”
In late February, as part of our play! series, Besa performed this duo piece with Randall Avers! She shares more about the experience,
“Playing with Randy was incredible because even though his part was super hard, he made it sound easy.
Getting to work with Randy was such an amazing opportunity! It was really touching to hear about his life journey that occurred this past year, and how he used his experiences to create music with the people he cares most about. He is such a talented musician and an incredibly nice person, and I am very lucky that I got to work with him on my duet piece.”
Watch their performance of Ancestor by Besa Carney, here:
Looking forward, Besa plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to major in composition in the Fall! We’re so pumped to see what she does next!
We’re so grateful to connect with such talented people in our community and continue to create beautiful music and experiences with them. And we look forward to sharing more stories like these with you!
Learn more about ACG Education and the work we do here. Support ACG Education here.
Beautiful Updates from Uganda!
"I am fortunate to witness the transformative power of music in young lives. Our children face numerous challenges, yet through music, cultural arts, and gymnastics, they find a sense of purpose, confidence, and community. It reminds us of the universal role these things can play in building connections and resilience, no matter where we are in the world." - Aidah Nakitto, M-LISADA Music Coordinator
Learn more about M-LISADA here.
In summer 2023, we connected with Bosco Segawa from M-LISADA, an orphanage system based in Uganda, who shared how music and dance are central to their community. He dreamed of adding guitar to their creative journey.
Thanks to Free Guitars 4 Kids and Cálido Guitars, we sent 30 beautiful guitars and 60 sets of Augustine Strings overseas. Seven months later, the instruments arrived!
By June 2024, we began training their teachers, former residents of the program who are now giving back, and in late August, classes began. Check out some of the videos they shared with us back then, here.
Since then, the teachers and students there have made incredible beauty beyond anything we could have imagined. We were surprised by this lovely video of gratitude on March 29, 2025 - which came along with three beautifully recorded songs. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/3pFzjdPIR4I
"Last year, some of our children here recorded two songs but I also featured them playing the trumpet. They are acoustic. One of the songs is called 'We Are One' arranged by M-LISADA which means we are family despite our different backgrounds and 'What a Wonderful M-LISADA.'
Next week, we are traveling to the states. The tour is featuring the Launch of a book two of our girls co-authored together with an African music Artist based in North Carolina, Chinobay Herbert, who has been our partner for almost a decade now!" - Bosco Segawa
What a Wonderful M-LISADA
Imagine
We are in so much awe of the members of M-LISADA's dedication and talent.
We are so deeply grateful to our partners for making this possible. Thank you.