ACG Blog

In reflecting on our season theme of Give and the many gifts that are present in our community, I recently compiled a list of every new piece of music that ACG has commissioned and supported over the years. 

All together there are over 300 pieces and arrangements totaling over 20 hours of music.  It was staggering to see it written out in one place and I couldn’t help but ask: Why has creating new music been such a big part of our work? 

We’ve made large scale pieces by internationally celebrated composers such as Reena Esmail, Nico Muhly, Graham Reynolds, Clarice Assad, Marek Pasieczny, and Jorge Morel. There are three silent film scores, ambitious chamber music pieces and powerful works with community voices.  

So many friends, near and far, have created new music for us:  Roland Dyens, Celil Refik Kaya, Olga Amelkina Vera, Mark Anthony Cruz, Jurg Kindle, Russell Pinkston, Matthew Lyons, and our own Travis Marcum and Justice Phillips, just to name a few. 

On top of this, our EducationTeam has written and arranged a sizable catalogue of pieces for young guitarists in public schools and our Music & Healing Artists recently finished writing their 100th song.  

When you consider that it requires significant resources to create a new piece of music, and there are plenty of perfectly good pieces already in existence, why is it important that we continue to make new works?

I believe the answer is you. Our community is rich and varied in its experience and is so worthy of expression. A new piece is a manifestation of its place and its time and it helps us recognize and celebrate the significance of life itself. 

A new piece empowers us to ask great and timely questions: Who are we now? What do we want to remember? What is special about our time? How do we want to be? 

And I believe that a new piece is filled with energy and promise. The energy comes from three advocates: the composer who writes the piece, the performers who bring it into being, and the community where it is created. The deeper the connection between all of those involved, the more energy it creates and the more meaning it has to offer. 

Some of my favorite examples of pieces that are filled with energy are: 

• Presence (2023) by ACG Artist in Residence Reena Esmail. The product of a year-long collaboration, the lyrics were co-written by a very special orchestra of guitarists made up of middle school, high school and university students as well as community members. 
• Mosaic Variations (2021) by Clarice Assad was co-created with 50 students from across our city. There are two versions of this piece:  one with Clarice and the students and the other with Jorge Caballero and the Miró Quartet.
• Garden Green (2019) was written by Lullaby Project participant Meg with artists Travis Marcum and Amelia DeVivo. As she thought about meeting her baby for the first time, Meg used the familiar image of a garden as a symbol of growth and peace through the joy and challenges of life. 
• I wrote i/we in collaboration with Travis Marcum in 2017 as reflection on how connected and divided we are. It features the voices and stories of refugees settling in Austin at that time. We revisited the work with ARCOS Dance during the pandemic and created I/WE 2020 with the original live recording and ARCOS’ exquisite choreography and videography.

This, as they say, is the tip of the iceberg. This library of music is in turn beautiful, fun, heartbreaking, and riveting and it is steadily becoming a collection that reflects our time and who we are.

With gratitude,

Dr. Joe Williams III, Artistic Director

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!

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!”

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. 

Our play! Series comes to a close this week on Wednesday, April 9 at Captain Quackenbush’s in South Austin and on Thursday, April 10 at The Rosette, with a dazzling showcase of two rising stars from right here in Texas: multi-award-winning guitarist and composer David Manzanares Salguero, and one of Austin’s most outstanding young classical guitarists, Aytahn Benavi.

These extraordinary artists represent a new generation of classical guitarists—brilliant, passionate, and deeply committed to sharing music in meaningful ways. As we look forward to their performances, we had the chance to sit down with David to learn more about his story, his music, and his heart for community.

Learn more and find tickets here. Learn more about supporting ACG’s artists here. 

“I am extremely passionate about finding ways to create a positive impact on the community through music. I have done a lot of work performing in the Baltimore community (where I live right now) and even lived in a retirement home for two years where I would perform for  residents in the independent and assisted living facilities. I am also really passionate about composing. I find it to be a really compelling way to explore my voice through music. I find with my compositions, I am really interested in both story telling and lifting up underrepresented voices.”

One of the most inspiring parts of David’s journey is a project he created and has shared in collaboration with ACG’s Director of Education, Travis Marcum, called For the Future, a college readiness program for high school students facing financial barriers who want to pursue music in higher education.

“I meet with the kids once a month both individually and in a group and walk  them through application process and act as a resource for them. Coming from a low income background myself, I didn’t know if I would be able to go to college. I had always planned on going but logistically, I couldn’t afford it. Thankfully, I was able to join a program very similar to “For the Future” that helped me through application process. However, I was the first student to go into the program who wanted to pursue music.  There was a lot of learning I had to do on my own about the process since I am a first  generation college student. Thankfully I was able to successfully apply and was accepted into  the Peabody Institute of Music on a full scholarship. Because of my experiences I wanted to create a program that helped students in similar situations. There are a lot of complicated parts to the application that aren’t intuitive and I want  to get rid of as many barriers as I can for these students. They have so  much potential and are so smart. I really want to help them put their potential where it belongs, in top tier universities. During the summer before my senior year, I won Peabody’s Launch Grant to fund the creation of this program and have been working on it since!”

David’s performance at Play! will include a beautiful range of works. He shares,

“I’m super exited to share this program because it’s comprises of my favorite works. I begin  with Bach’s Concerto in D Major which is a transcription of Vivaldi’s Violin Concert in D Major.  This work was then transcribed for the guitar by Judicael Perroy. I love playing this piece  because of how joyous it is but also because of its sensitivity, especially in the second movement.  

The second piece is Coste’s Rondeau de Concert. This work is considered to be Salon Music  which is meant to be played at a small party for friends. I like how fun this piece is and I really try to bring out the humor in it. 

The next piece is Triaela by Roland Dyens. I like to think of this piece as classical guitar  remixes since Dyens combines his different inspirations in each moment to create these  interesting fusions. 

I will finish with a piece I wrote last year about home. Home is When it’s Hardest to Say Goodbye is meant to represent the feeling of nostalgia when moving. Looking back at the  good times you had in your old home and sometimes not realizing how much a place felt like  home until you leave. 

I hope everyone enjoys the program! This music really brings me a lot of joy and am excited to  share this with everyone.”

Looking ahead, David is focused on growing For the Future, deepening his work as a composer, especially in collaboration with singers, and continuing to perform and compete.

And this summer, he’ll be moving to Austin to pursue his DMA at UT as Professor Adam Holzman’s Teaching Assistant!

“I’m looking forward to calling Austin my new home.”

Join us for this special evening with David Manzanares and Aytahn Benavi—two incredible young artists, right here in our backyard, whose passion, talent, and vision are helping shape the future of classical guitar. 

GET TICKETS

We hope to see you there! 

Welcome! Each December our team gets together to reminisce and reflect on the amazing adventures we’ve had over the previous twelve months. It’s not easy to come up with the top ten, because there are always so many incredible moments to choose from, but somehow we always manage to narrow it down. 

Don’t see your favorite? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you about the moment that touched your heart, tickled your fancy, or inspired your spirit.

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

Support ACG’s programs here. 

#10 ACG Abroad: Uganda & Nepal

Oh wow. Our hearts expanded this year thanks to the amazing efforts of the teachers and students in our partner programs in Uganda and Nepal.

With assistance from our friends at Free Guitars 4 Kids and Cálido Guitars, we sent 30 guitars and 60 sets of Augustine Strings to Uganda. Seven months later, the guitars arrived, and by June 2024, teacher training had begun. By late August, guitar classes were underway. 

This community’s incredible progress in just three months has left us in awe. Music Coordinator Aidah Nakitto:

“The arrival of the guitars has expanded opportunities for our children to learn new skills, express themselves creatively, and connect with others through music. 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.”

Read more about our work in Uganda here.

We’ve also been getting the most amazing videos from Kathmandu, Nepal! In the video below, the kids walked from the building where they learn guitar to a nearby temple because they thought it would be a prettier backdrop for the video they wanted to send us. Enjoy!!

#9 Student Artistry

We’re consistently amazed by the artistry and leadership of the young people we work with in our community. Every ACG concert features student performers, and one unforgettable moment was Brandon Kim at The Rosette opening for guitar icon Raphaël Feuillâtre.

Beyond the stage, students like Jianna Zamora exemplified leadership. At Bowie High School, Jianna stepped up to teach her peers, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and growth. Read more about her inspiring journey in our blog post here.

We’re endlessly grateful for these young musicians who not only shine as artists but also lead with heart, contributing to the thriving musical community we all cherish.

#8 Music & Healing: Red Oak Hope

Our Music & Healing program continues to blossom, bringing light and connection through music. Since 2014, ACG’s Music & Healing artists have worked with individuals facing profound challenges, creating opportunities to reflect, share, and express personal experiences through music. 

One partnership that highlights this transformative power is with Red Oak Hope, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of sexual exploitation. Their Austin home provides a safe space where women can heal and rebuild their lives. Through Red Oak Hope’s Restore program, participants discover creative outlets for self-expression as part of their holistic healing journey.

One stunning example of this work is Canción para Maria, a heartfelt song written by ACG Musich & Healing Artist, Michael, in collaboration with participants from Red Oak Hope. You can listen to Michael singing this beautiful song here. 

We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to create music that heals and connects, and for the extraordinary individuals and partners who make this work possible.

#7 ACG Originals: Cuatro Elementos

Azul Barrientos and Joseph Palmer’s gorgeous concert Cuatro Elementos kicked off our ACG Originals concert series this season and it was pure magic. 

This extraordinary collaboration was a breathtaking celebration of the elements of life, blending classical and folk music into something transcendent. They shared music from their childhoods growing up in two very different places (Azul in Mexico City and Joseph in Rockwall, TX) and seamlessly connected their worlds. 

Here’s one of our favorites:

#6 Juvenile Justice: Long-Term Engagement

This year, we celebrated a milestone in our Juvenile Justice long-term engagement program. One Sunday afternoon in October, a young man we’ll call Tom performed beautifully at The Rosette. This concert marked the completion of his probation requirements, following his release from the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center about a year earlier.

Our long-term engagement initiative grew from a desire to extend the trust and transformation we see in students during their time with us in detention. Learning and performing music for the first time often sparks incredible growth, and we wanted to create a pathway for music and mentorship to remain an anchor as students reintegrate into the community.

Tom’s story is a testament to this vision. Not only did he captivate the audience with three solos and two duets during his performance, but he also shared his music in court as part of his final hearing, impressing the judge with his progress. Tom has since joined his school’s guitar class and actively seeks new opportunities to play and perform.

To learn more about Tom’s inspiring journey and the impact of this program, read Matt Hinsley’s full reflection letter here.

#5 Ten Years of ACGYO: Spain Tour

This year, we celebrated a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of the ACG Youth Orchestra! 

Since its founding in 2013 under the direction of Joe Williams, ACGYO has brought together advanced young guitarists from across our community. To mark their 10th anniversary, the ACGYO went on a memorable tour in Spain in June. 

The journey included a visit to the renowned Alhambra Guitarra factory, where members borrowed fifteen 4 P Conservatory model guitars for the tour. With these lovely instruments in hand, they performed across Southern Spain, delighting audiences at the Las Torres de Cotillas Flamenco Festival, the Antonio de Torres Museo de la Guitarra and a surprise performance in Granada.

This tour was a celebration of cultural exchange and community with memories that will last a lifetime. Learn more about the tour here.

#4 Great artists at The Rosette: Ana Vidovic 

This year, The Rosette has been graced by an abundance of world-class musicians, including luminaries like David Russell, Raphael Feuillâtre, and the Beijing Duo.

One shining example was the unforgettable concert by Ana Vidovic. Ana’s playing was pure poetry. Her fingers moved with effortless grace, drawing out sounds that seemed to breathe life into the room. Every note carried such depth and beauty that the air felt electric, and for those moments, the world outside disappeared. It was the kind of performance that stays with you long after the last note fades.

We are incredibly proud to have such incredible musicians perform at The Rosette, and grateful to witness how it has become a destination for world-class guitar artistry.

#3 25 Years of ACG Community Guitar 

We’re thrilled to celebrate 25 years of ACG’s Community Ensembles, and what an exciting year it’s been! Our ensembles are growing stronger than ever, with new additions like the South Austin Guitar Ensemble (SAGE) and the Youth Sinfonia.

ACG Community Ensembles are a special place where anyone, regardless of skill level, can come together and express themselves through music. 

“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 ensembles have come, and we’re excited for the future. To learn more about our 25th anniversary and the ongoing impact of the Community Ensembles, read our full interview with Tony here. 

#2 Give Quartets with Pepe Romero

This October, we had the privilege of hosting guitar legend–and 2024-25 ACG Artist-in-Residence–Pepe Romero for his first week-long residency with ACG. It was a week filled with heartfelt connections, inspirations, and collaborations. 

The residency brought to life the essence of our season theme, Give. Months of preparation led to this moment: nine incredibly talented students from our programs, guided by our teaching artists, came together to rehearse and perform with Pepe. In three quartets, Pepe joined as the fourth member, performing music composed or arranged by Pepe and his family.

This unique collaboration is building toward our season finale in May, where these quartets will share the stage once again for an electrifying celebration of music and giving. Learn more and see some behind the scenes content here.

#1 Presence 

2024 began with the culmination of a yearlong journey with last season’s Artist-in-Residence and Grammy-nominated composer, Reena Esmail.

Presence was the centerpiece of our 2023-24 season. The performance featured Reena’s stunning compositions, which weaved Indian and Western classical traditions into something utterly unique. 

It brought together an incredible lineup of artists: the extraordinary Mexican guitarist Dieter Hennings Yeomans, Austin’s boundary-pushing vocal ensemble VAMP, and critically acclaimed bassoonist Kristin Wolfe Jensen. These world-renowned performers were joined by a massive guitar orchestra, conducted by ACG Artistic Director Joe Williams, on the stage of the gorgeous AISD Performing Arts Center.

Reena’s work for Presence not only explored the intricate beauty of Indian ragas adapted for guitar but also brought together artists and traditions that rarely intersect. Also, every lyric in this piece was written by a member of the intergenerational guitar orchestra!

We are so grateful to have the opportunity to connect with our community in meaningful ways and create grandiose moments like this together.

BONUS: The ACG Team is Growing! 

Our ACG family is expanding! This year, we’ve welcomed some incredible new team members and celebrated huge milestones within our community.

In the spring Judit Kolics came on board as our new Operations Director. We’re a $2,000,000 organization now, so that means a LOT of operations! Judit has totally transformed the ACG cerebral cortex and done it with kindness, elegance, and big giant smiles. 

Then in the summer, Jordan Sanchez joined us as our new Education Project Manager, bringing her passion and expertise to support our mission. ACG Education is super complex with a dense array of services, programs, training, and curricula available to our global partners alongside deep and direct community-based services here in central Texas. Jordan’s awesome, and now everything is better. 

In the classroom, we’re excited to see our former student (like more than a decade ago at McCallum High School!) Vijay Meunier, teaching full-time at Anderson High School. He’s doing an amazing job (of course!) and the parents and kids love him. Go Vijay!

Our Community Education team has grown too, with the addition of Alex Lew and Rey Rodriguez (both former students, too!!), two fantastic educators who share our dedication to spreading the joy of music.

And let’s not forget our dynamic group of interns: Maddy Coronado, Maddy Moore, and Christina Castro. Their energy, creativity, and hard work are fueling so much of what we do behind the scenes.

We couldn’t be more excited about the future with these amazing individuals on our team. Together, we’re building something truly magical! Here’s our 2024 ACG Holiday photo. Not everyone is in there – about fifteen missing – but you get the idea.

THANK YOU

All of the beautiful things that happen at ACG are possible because of people who believe in what we do and choose to support our work. If you would like to join us, and it’s the right time to give, we invite you to make a year-end gift. We are so grateful to every one of you! 

In the space below, we would like to recognize some individuals and institutions for their exceptional generosity during the past year. We also invite you to view our sponsors here.

3M Foundation, Greg & Cindy Abell, Ameriprise Financial Community Relations, Applied Materials Foundation, Arnold Foundation, in honor of Lazan Pargaman, atsec information security, Augustine Foundation, Kelley Bowen, Amon Burton, Megyn Busse, Sarah & Ernest Butler, Bill & Lynne Cariker, Lucy & Bill Farland, Ford Foundation, Free Guitars 4 Kids, Kendal & Ken Gladish, Laura Gutierrez-Witt, H-E-B, Ed & Janet Hess, IBC Bank Austin, Penny Jamrack & Bill DeNigris, Jim & Marion Jirsa, Kaman Foundation, Elaine & Michael Kasper, Sangeeta Kaur & Hai Nguyen, Kodosky Foundation, Karrie & Tim League, Debra Lewis, Long Foundation, Louis & Mary Kay Smith Family Foundation, Richard Mattingly, Louise Epstein & John Henry McDonald, Carson & Michele McKowen, Meadows Foundation, Mockingbird Foundation, Bill Moyer, MFS Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation, Christa Pandey, Lazan Pargaman, Lloyd & Ferrell Pond, Kerry & Carole Price, David & Kera Race, Mary Raley, Rea Charitable Trust, Robert Reynolds & Kelly Raley, Jacqueline Rixen, Ruth J Rubio, The Ben & Nancy Sander Family, Shanti Foundation for Intercultural Understanding, Jill Smith, Judith Stich, Still Water Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, The D’Addario Foundation, Russ & Janey Trowbridge, University Area Rotary Club, Brian & Virginia Urban, W.D. Kelley Foundation, Warren Skaaren Charitable Trust, Webber Family Foundation, Maria Wells, Jack & Vanessa Wolfe, Greg Wooldridge & Lynne Dobson, Zack & Whitney Zamora, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Gruppo Butera, Bawi Agua Fresca, New World Deli, Fairweather Cider, Robert Rodriguez, Flavor Co. Catering + Events, Live Oak Brewing Company.

On December 7 and 8, ACG’s very own Matt Hinsley will share an incredibly special evening of music and storytelling with us at The Rosette in an ACG Originals production titled, Journey. 

Joining Matt on stage are two exceptionally talented musicians and dear friends from his journey: Justin Jay Hines, an A-list percussionist and Matt’s former college roommate, and Joe Williams, ACG’s Artistic Director, bassist, and longtime collaborator. Together, they will bring this story to life.

Find tickets here.

Inspired by our season theme of GIVE and Joseph Campbell’s exploration of the hero’s journey, ACG’s Executive Director, Matt Hinsley, has put together a gorgeous program that shares stories of pivotal moments from his remarkable 28 years with ACG. 

This week, we had the opportunity to take a deeper dive into this project with Matt!

“I love stories. I love to read them, and I love to write them,” Matt Hinsley shares with an unmistakable enthusiasm, 

“Something that has long fascinated me is the Hero’s Journey paradigm shared with the world by Joseph Campbell. I’ve been taking a class this year about synchronicity and we spent a bit of time studying the Hero’s Journey right when Joe Williams started talking with me about doing this concert. To me it felt like…synchronicity! The whole concert, which is ten connected pieces – like a concept album – came to me in the span of about six weeks.”

Why the Hero’s Journey? Matt explains, 

“The Hero’s Journey is the framework that many stories are based on. It includes being called by something, something big, something you don’t fully understand but is irresistible and you’re compelled to follow it. Then there are a series of trials. And ultimately a return. The hero always returns different then when they set out, and often, while the journey is external, the thing they’ve been searching for was inside them the whole time. Think Frodo and Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, or Luke in Star Wars.”

But for Matt, the Hero’s Journey isn’t just a literary device; it’s a lens through which he sees life. 

“It’s in huge things, like our entire lifetimes, or our careers, or our marriages. It’s in small things, like going to get a cup of coffee! It’s in our journey to become good at something, like playing the guitar. It’s in our collaborative relationships.”

Our 2024-25 Season theme is GIVE, which Matt also drew a lot of inspiration from. When planning the season, Matt spoke deeply about this concept with ACG’s artistic director and bassist for this project, Joe Williams. He shared what GIVE meant for him, 

“For me, the idea of give is about recognition and awareness and intention. It’s about recognizing the gifts that everyone gives: their presence, their effort, their kindness, their talent. It’s about awareness of those gifts in the moment they are happening, not only in retrospect. And it is about having the intention to give in every way possible.”

This philosophy culminates in the final piece of Journey, a song Matt wrote: 

“Been thinking lately about life’s gold and rust. The thought came to me, just. I asked how stars choose the people they dust. The answer that came was just. I begged for release from toil, boom, and bust. The gift I received, just. I wondered at beauty, and kindness, and trust. The wisdom I gained, was just give. Just give.” 

He continues on to share, 

“What I mean by those words is: we struggle in our lives. We struggle with ups and downs, with wondering why them and not us, or why us and not them, we struggle with labor, and we wonder at beauty. And while we may not ever have the satisfying answers to those questions, we can process all of it, and live our best lives as our divine selves by just giving.”

As we prepare to experience Journey, we’re reminded of the immense impact Matt Hinsley has had on ACG over the past 28 years. His vision, leadership, and unwavering passion have transformed this organization into a global beacon of creativity, education, and community connection. Through his dedication, Matt has touched countless lives, inspiring students, audiences, and collaborators with his artistry and generosity. We are deeply grateful for his leadership, which continues to guide and shape ACG’s mission in profound and meaningful ways. This concert is not only a reflection of his journey but also a celebration of the extraordinary gifts he has shared with all of us.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

We dream of a world where music is here for everyone, connecting us, inspiring us, and bringing joy and meaning wherever it goes. We are having our Fall fund drive here at ACG and 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.

At ACG, we believe in the power of music to heal, connect, and transform lives. This mission has guided our work for over a decade, especially through our Music & Healing program, led by ACG’s Director of Education and Music & Healing, Travis Marcum. As part of our Fall Fund Drive, we are thrilled to share Travis’ inspiring story and his reflections on how music can be a powerful source of healing.

In 2010, Travis began leading the guitar program at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center. Working with young people who had faced trauma and hardship early in life was a deeply moving experience for him. Travis shared, 

“For four years, I worked with young men and women who had experienced tremendous trauma and hardship early in their childhood. Many of the students were diagnosed with mental health issues or learning disabilities alongside addiction in some cases. Through connecting with them and listening to their experiences, I learned about the many ways they came to the guitar each day as a means to cope with their circumstance, to calm the mind, and access the expression needed to heal.”

It was in those early years at Gardner Betts that Travis saw the power of music to heal, not just as an art form but as a tool for processing deep emotions. 

“It was a powerful experience for me, and I began thinking about all of the possibilities to connect with people in the Austin community around the idea of validating experiences through collaborative music making.”

The seed was planted, and soon the vision for ACG’s Music & Healing program began to take shape. In 2014, ACG partnered with Carnegie Hall for the Lullaby Project, a collaborative songwriting initiative that pairs professional musicians with new or expectant parents to create original lullabies for their babies.

“Lullaby Project is a program that pairs professional musicians with new or expectant parents to write an original lullaby for their baby,” Travis explained. “Artist and mother collaborate in generating lyrics and music to express her hopes and dreams for her child. The model of the Lullaby Project offered us a path forward to explore collaborative songwriting with many other partner organizations and participants such as Dell Children’s Hospital, Texas Oncology, Red Oak Hope, Foundation Communities, and many more.”

Since then, ACG Music & Healing has expanded to reach individuals across Austin who are experiencing some of life’s most significant challenges—illness, trauma, and grief—offering them a safe, expressive space to transform their feelings into music. Travis shares, 

“ACG Music & Healing is so special because it offers us a musical space to validate and acknowledge some of the biggest joys and hardships of the human experience and share these feelings in a safe and beautiful way. As a society, we often pack away and hide our illness, grief, and trauma. We aren’t taught to express our feelings, and as time goes by, we can feel isolated. The music gives us a safe place to put the feelings, and our skilled Music & Healing Artists help transform them into a song. It’s a simple concept: make music, together, and heal. The friendships that we have made over the last ten years are so special to me. The fact that people invite us into their hearts, that they trust us to treat their ideas with care and to make something beautiful together… that blows my mind.”

Through the dedication of Travis Marcum and our incredible Music & Healing Artists, we have witnessed countless moments of transformation as individuals facing isolation or hardship find a path toward healing through music.

This fall, we invite you to support Travis’ Music & Healing program and help us continue to provide this essential service to those who need it most. Your generosity makes it possible for us to offer this healing space to more individuals and families across Austin.

Support Travis’ program here.

We dream of a world where music is here for everyone, connecting us, inspiring us, and bringing joy and meaning wherever it goes. We are having our Fall fund drive here at ACG and 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.

At ACG, we believe in the transformative power of music and community. Few people embody this belief more than our Community Education Director, Tony Mariano, who leads our vibrant ACG Community Ensembles. As we celebrate 25 years of ACG Community Ensembles, we sat down with Tony to reflect on the heart of this program and the journey that has brought us here.

The ACG Community Ensembles are a place where everyone, no matter their skill level or experience, can come together and express themselves as artists. For Tony, this is the foundation of what makes these ensembles so special. He shared, 

“Everyone has something deep within them that needs to be expressed, but sadly, there aren’t always many safe or encouraging outlets for that. Often, people with so much to give as artists don’t get the opportunity to express themselves in the truest sense. Through the ACG Community Ensembles, we offer that chance to people of all ages.”

It’s this sense of creative freedom that makes participating in the ensembles such a fulfilling experience. For Tony, helping others tap into that deep part of themselves is the most rewarding aspect of the work. 

“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’s journey with the Community Ensembles began in 2016 with the desire to help people discover their potential through music. Tony shares, 

“I wanted to work with this program because I wanted to challenge people to achieve great things through music, while also helping them find community and connection in the process. There’s nothing better than seeing people smile after they’ve worked hard for weeks and finally achieve something meaningful to them. The feeling of creating something beautiful—something you once thought was impossible—is a moment I love witnessing.”

In 2016, Tony began his journey directing the ACG Choir, a group that had a profound impact on him both personally and professionally. He expressed, 

“I’m so grateful to that first group for giving me the space to develop as a leader and teacher. They’ll always have a special place in my heart. Since then, I’ve taken over the ACG Chamber Ensemble and the ACG Youth Camerata. Today, we have six adult and youth community ensembles, all directed by some of the most talented artists and educators in the world. I’m incredibly grateful to share this work with such amazing people.”

This season marks a significant milestone for ACG’s Community Ensembles; 25 years of fostering creativity, community, and connection through music. Over the past two and a half decades, ACG has been blessed with incredible art and music from talented composers who have shaped the program in profound ways.

“Through commissions, composition competitions, artist residency collaborations, and our GuitarCurriculum library, we’ve received mind-blowing compositions from truly remarkable people. These gifts have shaped ACG and our ensembles in a deep way, and we’re so excited to celebrate them this year.”

As part of the celebration, each ensemble will prepare a program featuring music from ACG’s past, honoring these incredible works. The anniversary will culminate in a Spring Festival on April 26th, where the ensembles will share these musical gifts with the community once again.

“Don’t miss it!” Tony added with excitement.

As we look back on 25 years of ACG Community Ensembles, we’re reminded of the countless moments of joy, connection, and artistic expression that have made this program so special. We invite you to be part of this celebration. Whether by attending the Spring Festival, joining one of our ensembles, or supporting Tony and the Community Ensemble program for our fall fund drive. 

Thank you for being part of this journey with us! 

Support Tony’s program here.

We dream of a world where music is here for everyone, connecting us, inspiring us, and bringing joy and meaning wherever it goes. We are having our Fall fund drive here at ACG and 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.

Guitar Foundation Nepal is made possible thanks to a generous sustaining gift from Rick Reeder at Layer 3 Real Estate, who shares our belief that music can do good in the world. We’re so grateful for our many opportunities to work with teachers near and far who bring their passion into the classroom every day. If you’d like to join Rick and many others as an ACG sustaining donor, click here! Thanks to all our friends who make our programs possible.

For this year’s Fall Fund Drive, we would like to take a moment to introduce you to some of the amazing individuals who are at the heart of ACG’s community programs. 

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of stories that spotlight our dedicated employees and community members, highlighting the transformative programs they lead and the incredible impact they have on our community.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating these extraordinary programs and the people who make them possible.

This week, we’re excited to highlight Ravindra Paudyal, an EMS professional from Kathmandu, who had long dreamed of creating guitar classes in his community. A few years ago, that dream led him to connect with ACG, and since then, he has turned it into a reality.

We had the opportunity to speak with Ravindra about his program and how it functions, here’s what he had to say:

“Guitar Foundation Nepal is a remarkable initiative that offers much more than music lessons. It is a comprehensive academy that fosters a wide range of skills, including teamwork, self-esteem, and self-actualization, all through the beauty of classical music. The program emphasizes the importance of music as a performing art, where students learn to express abstract concepts like scripts, scores, and language through their performances.

In my work with these students, I focus on creating a friendly and supportive environment. I accept their weaknesses with patience, teaching them as a friend, not just a mentor. To ensure their well-being, we provide lunch during music classes, as they attend after school. We also cover their lunch, travel, and recital allowances during performances, making sure they feel supported every step of the way. Additionally, we supply all necessary curriculum materials, allowing the students ample time to understand, feel, and perform the music they learn. Their progress is visible in their monthly performances, and I’m proud of how uniformly they are improving.

Looking ahead, I plan to cover the yearly tuition fees for our most outstanding, dedicated, and deserving students. None of this would be possible without the generous contributions from kind-hearted individuals in America, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Austin Classical Guitar for making this program a reality.

Finally, I want to personally thank Dr. Matthew Hinsley for his unwavering dedication as a music educator and social worker. Through melody, harmony, and orchestration, he has shown a path of hope to many who have felt lost. Melody represents the direction we take in life, harmony symbolizes the support we receive to make it better, and orchestration is the teamwork built on discipline, hard work, and growth.”

We feel incredibly fortunate to witness the power of music to inspire and uplift communities around the world. Thank you, as always, for your generous support, which allows us to continue nurturing programs like these.