ACG Blog

Sights and Sounds of Wonder

A sound and art installation from the Polar Regions of Earth

The Rosette is honored to host a captivating new photography exhibit and sound installation by photographer Joaquin Delgado in collaboration with composer Mike Vernusky. This spring 2026 installation includes 12 breathtaking images by Delgado captured in the earth’s polar regions, alongside Vernusky’s Polar Symphony created from sounds he personally recorded in the arctic. Artist statements are below as well as an on-demand recording of Vernusky’s Polar Symphony ’Time on the Verge of Collapse’ and web-resolution versions of Delgado’s 12 photographs. If you would like to support ACG’s commitment to the creation and curation of new art, click here.

Artist Statement
Joaquin Delgado, Photographer

Being in the polar regions is immersing one self in a world defined by the solid form of water.  Water, clouds, snow, and ice interplay with everything as they mutate back and forth from liquid to solid to vapor.  Snow and ice take different forms and shapes. Light gets diffracted and reflected into different hues and colors by the snow, water and ice. Habitats and the rhythms and cicles of life in the polar regions are ruled by these physical transitions.

The beauty of these vast polar regions and the life they hold keep  bringing  me back year after year to capture photographically this beauty.

Matt Hinsley made me aware of Mike Vernusky’s project to record the sounds in the Arctic region and suggested to do an exhibit together. Within seconds of starting to listen Mike’s recordings, I jumped at Matt’s idea of Mike and I doing an exhibit together. It was exciting, Mike had capture the element missing from each and all of my photographs: the sounds that were part of the scenes I had photographed. His work and my work  complement each other and together they create a fascinating experience.

I hope that listening to Mike’s “Polar Symphony” while looking at my photographs from the Arctic and the Antarctic regions will allow each person to immerse for few moments into these unique regions of our world and safely get  lost in their beauty.

My thanks to Matt for having the idea of creating this exhibit and providing the venue for it.

Artist Statement
Mike Vernusky, Composer

This past March, I participated in The Arctic Circle, a mobile artist residency in which, for two uninterrupted weeks, I lived aboard a barquentine ship while circumnavigating Svalbard. Making twice-daily excursions deep into the Arctic to record sound, I was among thirty artists working across a wide range of disciplines, and one of only two focused exclusively on electronic sound.

The Arctic proved to be one of the most demanding environments I have ever recorded in—and, at the same time, it was the experience of a lifetime. On our first night at sea, a school of beluga whales pierced the stillness, allowing me to lower hydrophones into the water and capture their vocal exchanges.
Nearly every day, a glacier strained at its edge before giving way to collapse, irrevocably reshaping the landscape. These events arrived without warning; the challenge was to already be listening and recording when they did. Upon returning, I began assembling an archive of these recordings, so they might be experienced by others. The process unfolded over several months, driven by an urgency to preserve a sound that still resonated vividly in my memory. And yet, despite how closely the sounds aligned with those internal impressions, something essential remained absent: a visual counterpart.

This led me to the work of Joaquin Delgado, a fellow Arctic explorer whose photographic practice spans the High Arctic and Antarctica. From my first encounter with Joaquin’s images, it was clear that our approaches were already in dialogue—each revealing something latent in the other through a kind of third lens. My hope for this installation is that when combined, these sounds and images will invite you to inhabit these moments: to listen, to look, and to immerse yourself in the Arctic as we experienced it.

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

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

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

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

10) Goldberg Variations Reimagined at The Rosette

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

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

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

9) The All New GuitarCurriculum

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

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

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

8) ACG Community Ensembles Turn 25

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

“We foster a strong community built on close relationships, creating a safe space where members can fully engage as artists and share the most powerful parts of their inner experience. Being able to express yourself in a space like that makes people feel good—about themselves, the people around them, and the world. And ultimately, we’re in the business of making people feel good.”
– Tony Mariano, ACG Director of Community Education

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

7)  Phantom of the Opera

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

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

6) Making a Difference in Schools

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

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

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

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

5) Juvenile Justice Services: Vida Ensemble

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

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

This year, that finally changed. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3) Give with Pepe Romero

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

and guitar legend—Pepe Romero. 

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

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

2) Major Endowment Gift to ACG Education

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

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

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

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

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

1) Season Opener with Grisha at Troublemaker Studios 

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

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

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

Thank You!

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

BONUS: ACG Youth Orchestra in Big Bend 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hector Aguilar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virginia Urban

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jianna Zamora

Things Jianna Mentions

Besa Carney conducts Bowie High School

SPY KIDS Music Video directed by Robert Rodriguez

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

ACGYO plays Arabesca in Spain

Jorge Caballero, a treasured friend and world renowned guitarist, wrote this moving reflection on ACG at 35 Years. We are so grateful to be able to share his words with you today. 

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

On my birthday, I follow a simple, solitary ritual. It takes minimal time, minimal effort, and requires no help from anyone or anything: I take a moment to contemplate the year past, and all those past it—lying in a place and time beyond my grasp—and give thanks to everything that contributed to who I am at present. This ritual came to me in my mid-twenties, unbidden, and has continued ever since. It helps me define my existence on this pale blue dot of a planet from a broad perspective, and recalibrate my sight as I embark on another trip around the Sun.

Today, as ACG is celebrating 35 years of existence, I find myself looking back, gathering my thoughts about it, and the ways in which  my experiences with ACG have transformed me. My personal history with ACG carries the weight of 21 years, and even if those years have not yet granted me all the wisdom I wish, they have gifted me a certain level of perspective, and the knowledge that my relationship with ACG has been one of the most–if not the most meaningful in how I have evolved as an artist, and as a human. 

It was 2004 when I first flew to Austin to play a recital for the Austin Classical Guitar Society (ACG). My life was quite different then; at 27, I was preparing to leave a music career behind and focus on an entirely different profession. That first performance for ACG changed my perspective on the value of music, reminding my younger self why music matters. Through music, we speak to someone’s soul, communicating without words or the rigid logic we usually use to interpret meaning; instead, we ‘feel’ meaning, collectively. I left Austin that year wondering if quitting music was truly the best decision, so I put those plans on hold. The following year, when Matt Hinsley invited me back for a 2006 recital, I finally abandoned my thoughts of quitting and committed to the career path I follow to this day—one that has brought me profound joy and a richness I couldn’t envision any other way.

Since then, I have had the privilege to play for ACG on numerous occasions—more often, in fact, than anywhere else I have performed. Much of my career’s progress can be traced directly to those concerts. One specific event stands out: In 2011, when I revived Kazuhito Yamashita’s arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition, ACG was one of the first organizations to invite me to play it. They did more than that, however. They organized “Austin Pictures,” one of the largest events centered around a single classical guitar work in history, which premiered at the Moody Theater. Sitting alone with my guitar on the cool stage in front of 1,500 people is a memory I can feel in my body every time I think about it.

I have also been blessed to witness ACG’s growth, from a concert series featuring the world’s finest guitarists and rising talents to the development of a summer series, school guitar programs, and the Juvenile Justice and Music for Healing initiatives. More recently, their operations transferred to The Rosette, a beautifully integrated facility where both performers and audience experience an intimate mode of interaction. Without question, ACG is the largest organization in the United States whose mission is rooted in the classical guitar.

My reflections bring me back to my final performances for ACG in 2023 at The Rosette. There, I premiered Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor, the most ambitious project of my career. I was driven to do this: not just to master a piece as monstrous in the classical repertoire as the Liszt sonata, but specifically to present it at The Rosette for ACG. My motivation was always clear: ACG gave me the crucial incentive to continue with music when I needed it most. Without that encouragement, I wouldn’t be here writing this today.

I have always wanted my most meaningful work to be presented by ACG as a private way of expressing my thanks. Premiering the Liszt Sonata at The Rosette also felt like coming full circle. Its small, intimate setting reminds me of my first time playing for ACG, while its state-of-the-art technology brings to mind how much the organization has evolved—how much it has refined and expanded its horizons to reach the privileged place it holds today.

As I end my reflections, I am left with one word: Gratitude. 

I am grateful to ACG for having encouraged me to continue, and for allowing me the opportunity to share music with its beautiful audience. I am grateful that it has continued to excel in its goal to improve the lives of those it has reached through this “little box with six strings.” I am singularly grateful to Matthew Hinsley for his vision, his sharp mind, focus, and personal support of my work, and to everyone—past and present—working at ACG in all capacities. They have taken up the cause of furthering the mission of changing people’s lives through the immaterial power of Music. 

My world is better for it. And this pale blue dot is better for it. 

Jorge Caballero 

Brilliant Moments with Jorge at ACG

PBS Pictures at an Exhibition 

Broadcast from the ACL Live Moody Theater

Sonata in B minor, S. 178 by Franz Liszt 

Broadcast from The Rosette

One of the wondrous things about music is that it welcomes us all on our own terms, each in our own way.  For the next few Fridays we’ll share some different perspectives on ACG and its impact these past 35 years. 

We’d love to hear your story! If you have something to share, please send it to [email protected]

Learn more about supporting ACG here.

Our first reflection is from Angelica Campbell, who is celebrating five years as our Director of Communications. But our relationship began long before that. We hope you enjoy her story. 

My history with ACG goes back to my 7th grade mariachi class at Bedichek Middle School in South Austin in 2012. That year I participated in All City, an event where students audition for parts in a large ensemble, rehearse, then perform for our friends and families. I was invited to try out for that experience by the man who is now our current Director of Curriculum, Phil Swasey. At the time, though, he was beginning his first year of teaching Mariachi at Bedichek. 

Enthralled by the All City experience, I joined the guitar program at Crockett High School. I graduated in just three years by which time I was deeply invested in both guitar and mariachi. Those classes shifted my path in life in the best of ways. It feels divine, the way things played out. 

At that time, I was struggling with depression. Coming from a low-income household and a dysfunctional family, I didn’t know how to process or cope with adversity. It impacted me heavily, but coming to my guitar or mariachi class was the highlight of my week. My friends and I even spent most of our lunches in the music room. It was a safe space.

Crockett’s instructor, Ron Hare–who is still such a special mentor in my life–made the classroom environment feel safe and accepting. I felt comfortable being myself, and could process what I was going through expressively. I met some of my longest-lasting friends in those classes– friendships I still hold close to this day. 

I had many special moments thanks to ACG. We had the chance to open up for the Assad Duo. We opened for Ana Vidovic at the Guitars Under the Stars gala. And I got to participate in a master class with Berta Rojas that was documented by PBS, just to name a few! 

When graduation approached, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with myself. I was desperate for an experience outside of the one I was having so I pushed hard to graduate early. Ron inspired me to dream up meaningful goals and suggested the idea of going to music school, something I likely would have never thought to do on my own. 

I wasn’t in a place to afford the instrument and lessons I would need to take music seriously. Ron assured me that it was possible and nudged me to try. He then introduced me to Matt Hinsley and Travis Marcum. That moment of connection changed everything. 

Within weeks, I was given a donated guitar and began private lessons at Crockett with Joseph Palmer, another very special mentor who I am grateful to still be connected to. I dedicated months to preparing for auditions and earned the opportunity to study at the Butler School of Music at UT Austin in Adam Holzman’s guitar studio for my undergrad. 

Music school was really difficult in the beginning with my relative inexperience. It was scary. I doubted myself a lot and debated stopping. Both Matt and Travis continued to check in on me, however, and offered support in any way I needed. I cannot express how much that added fuel to my flame. It meant the world to me. Throughout my studies ACG offered volunteer opportunities, gigs, and eventually two internships both in the office and in the classroom. 

All the while I was still having amazing, one-of-a-kind, spectacular concert experiences! I got to participate in ACG’s 2018 collaborative film project, Dream, open up for the Brasil Guitar Duo at the very last Guitar Under the Stars gala in Feb. 2020, participate in Master Classes with Andrew Zohn, David Leisner, and Les Fres Meduses Duo at UT, and have paid performance opportunities to name a few. 

Since graduating from UT, I’ve continued to grow and transform through ACG. I have had the opportunity over the last five years to learn new skills– communications and marketing– I’ve continued to witness and be part of beautiful and unique musical moments, make more life-changing connections, witness other young people experience things and transform like I did, and have the opportunity and blessing to live off my passion. 

Life at ACG feels abundant. I’m grateful that my path crossed here. I’m grateful for the entire ACG family and community. I’m grateful and excited to see how much the organization has evolved and how much is accomplished every single day. 

Thank you for going down memory lane with me. 

With gratitude, 

Angelica Campbell

Celebrating 35 Years of Austin Classical Guitar

Our mission is to inspire individuals in our community through experiences of deep personal significance. Our changes agents are beauty, kindness, and creative spark. In 35 years we are proud and grateful to have made a deep impact on 10,000s of people near and far, built new technology that has changed American music education, and deepened our belief in the power of music to make lasting, positive change in the world. Here are a few highlights:

1990 ACG Begins => Today it’s the largest classical guitar nonprofit in US history. 

1996 Matthew Hinsley first joins ACG as Board President => Executive Director 2003.

1997 International Artists Concerts => Over $10m paid to artists & educators.

1998 Community Concerts => Over 800 concerts with ~60,000 audience.

1999 Community Orchestra => 3 adult orchestras, festivals, 25-year members.

2001 Education => Guitar education in over 500 schools with over 100,000 students.

2002 Free Lessons => 1,000+ low-income students receive free weekly lessons.

2006 First New Commission => Over 300 new works, $10,000s to composers.

2008 GuitarCurriculum.com => First-ever comprehensive classroom guitar resource.

2009 National Teacher Training => 40+ TX districts, 30+ US states, 10+ nations.

2010 Juvenile Justice => TX first and only for-credit performing arts, 500+ served.

2011 TX School for the Blind & Visually Impaired => Groundbreaking service.

2013 Performance Engagement => Joseph Palmer plays 50 school concerts/year.

2013 Youth Orchestra => 4 orchestras, annual tours, commissions, 200+ youth.

2014 Music & Healing => 100+ songs written with patients, 1,000+ healing hours.

2015 Concert & Sight Reading Contest => First-ever for guitar, now in six cities.

2016 Global Services => Mexico, Nicaragua, Nepal, Uganda, and more. 

2017 Braille Lifelong Learning => First-ever, used worldwide. 

2018 Artist In Residence => $100K+ on major community-based art projects.

2020 Livestream Series => 400+ videos, 2.5m+ views.

2022 Rosette Opens => First and only classical guitar theater in US history.

2023 Method Books => GuitarCurriculum adds printed volumes, 1,500+ in use.

2024 Student Portal/Spanish Language Support => GuitarCurriculum expands.

2025 Student Data => AISD shows ACG students consistently outperform peers.