ACG Blog

Playing music for other people is one of the most special and rewarding things we can do as musicians. But for so many of us, performing for an audience can seem daunting and unreachable, which can keep us from even trying. In our Performing 101 Workshop, we will demystify the art of performing and develop comfort with this incredible skill so that we can feel confident sharing our music with others. Learn more here. 

We are so grateful to have the space and opportunity to host guitar classes and workshops in our new home, The Rosette. We have a few classes and workshops beginning in February! 

One of these classes being offered is Evan Taucher’s Performing 101 Workshop.

This week we had the chance to speak with Tami Rohn, a previous attendee of Evan’s Workshop.

Tami has been a musician her whole life, beginning with the piano at seven years old. She became connected with ACG in 2010 and has been participating in our community ensembles for years! Tami shared, 

“I have a hearing loss in both ears that has progressively gotten worse over time.  I’m the youngest of 4 and my siblings all play the piano.  When I was 7 years old I asked to take piano lessons, much to the surprise of my parents.  I have always loved music and 

my hearing loss has not stopped me from enjoying playing as well as listening to it.  I asked for a folk guitar when I was a teenager and taught myself to play.  One year when I was in college I had the summer off and decided to take a fun class, which was “Classical Guitar.”  That started a deep interest in learning more and I even attended my first Classical Guitar Concert soon after.  There’s something amazing in holding a guitar and not only playing and hearing the music, but feeling the deep vibrations resonate through the wood and into my body.  

I no longer have the folk guitar but at that time I had a cheap, Martin Classical Guitar that I started with.  The director (Tony Mariano is my 3rd director) was very patient with me as I had to really work on learning the guitar and learning to play with the ensemble. That particular guitar did not work well for my hearing loss and I discovered by the end of the season that I needed to upgrade, which I did.  From then the journey began with ACG and a deep desire to continue to play and master the instrument continued.”

Though Tami is musically inclined in many ways, she still had a desire to continue her growth. She shared, 

“I had been looking for ways to better myself as a musician and when Tony offered an Open Mic night in May 2022, I participated and actually played a piece, from memory, in front of an audience.  That alone did wonders for my confidence and fueled my desire to improve myself as a musician.  Evan’s first workshop was the “Technique Workshop”.  I knew that would be the perfect workshop and I quickly registered for it.  I also participated in his “Fretboard Mastery Workshop” and “Performance 101 Workshop”.  From each workshop I felt that I was learning the skills to become a better Classical Guitar musician.  Evan is very patient, thoughtful and highly encouraging.

I think that out of all of the workshops I enjoyed Performance 101 the most.  I learned a lot from Fretboard Mastery and that was the most challenging workshop for me, but Evan gave us the skills and confidence to continue practicing even after the workshop was finished.  The Performance 101 was fabulous as we each picked a piece that we learned and played for each other as if we were truly a Master Guitarist performing in a Grand Concert Hall.  That was fun, creative and I enjoyed hearing feedback not only for myself but also for my fellow workshop members. I highly recommend these workshops for anyone that wants to improve as a Classical Guitarist.”

It brings us so much joy to connect with our community and with ourselves through music. These classes are open to anyone no matter their musical background! We have beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses. Learn more about each of them here.

2022 has been such a beautiful and productive time for ACG! Each December, we pause to reflect on the last 12 months and put together a list of some of our favorite moments. We are so grateful to have so much growth, opportunity, and magic happening year after year. We hope you enjoy reading this year’s Top 10 list as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

If something you see here touches your heart or brings you joy, we hope you’ll consider making a gift to ACG today. We have set an ambitious goal of raising $250,000 by December 31st. Your gift will turn into services and resources that support guitar education programs in more than 50 local schools and five juvenile justice centers, Music & Healing collaborations in medical centers and shelters, and the personnel and equipment we need to help our new home, The Rosette, become a shining cultural beacon for our entire community.

Donate now on our support page or by texting GIVEACG to 44321.

And without further ado…our top 10 for 2022!

#10 HOME: Marek & Bion

Our Artist-in-Residence, Marek Pasieczny, is working with over eighty guitarists of all ages, across Texas, alongside incredible musicians Bion Tsang and Thomas Burritt, to make a monumental tribute to our planet that we’ll premiere on February 18.

Marek spent November in Austin, and did all sorts of amazing things (blog series) culminating in a marvelous set of concerts with Bion Tsang at The Rosette! Special thanks to atsec information security for their ongoing support of ACG’s Artist-in-Residence program.

#9 The Lodger

This Summer we released Alfred Hitchcock’s 1927 silent thriller, The Lodger, with a lush and evocative new musical score composed by ACG Artistic Director Joe Williams, in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse and Criterion! 

Tim League, Alamo’s Founder and Executive Chairman, recommended the film to us several years ago. Joe watched it countless times, fell in love with the story, the characters, and the cinematic mastery, and spent months writing a carefully detailed, beautiful, and haunting ninety-minute piece of music for four guitars and cello that compliments Hitchcock’s masterpiece perfectly. Now it’s available streaming worldwide!

Watch Matt Hinsley interview Joe and Tim here, or click below to stream the movie!

#8 Music & Healing: I Am Strong

ACG Music & Healing brings human connection, beauty, and expressivity to individuals facing isolation and challenge, through collaboration with a skilled and trained ACG Artist. 

One of our participants, Misty, wrote this fall: “I think it’s so awesome to be able to turn something that sometimes seems like a death sentence into a beautiful piece of hope.”

Each song is unique and moving. We invite you to listen to I Am Strong, written and performed by a young woman at Red Oak Hope along with Music & Healing Artist Claire Puckett. It took our breath away. 

#7 Students Doing Amazing Things

We’ve been blown away by the sheer talent, dedication, leadership, and passion from students in our education programs. Their gifts are on full display during the Student Spotlight concerts we host at The Rosette – here’s a playlist! We’re also super proud of this year’s Javier Nino Scholarship winners – you can meet them here. 

Last April, 41 ensembles from schools across central Texas played for judges as part of the Concert & Sight Reading event we help organize each spring. Two weeks prior to this year’s competition, the director of the Bowie High School guitar program had to take leave unexpectedly. When we heard this news, we expected Bowie to withdraw from the event. That didn’t happen. Besa Carney, a freshman(!) at Bowie, decided she would pick up the conducting baton and lead her class to Sweepstakes! Here she is conducting her peers like a seasoned pro. Amazing!

#6 Season Finale : Caballero Plays Phillips

ACG commissioned our very own Justice Phillips to compose a new piece for Jorge Cabballero to perform as part of our 21-22 Season Finale last May. You may know Justice as ACG’s Patron Services Director, but he’s also a marvelous guitarist and composer.  The piece is called Coming Out Party and in a reflection, Justice shared that “The experience of working with Jorge has helped me grow as a composer and musician!” 

#5 Juvenile Justice: ‘It’s Amazing’

Hector Aguilar is our new Director of Juvenile Justice Services, and he’s doing a remarkable job!

One of our Phoenix House students was recently approved to come perform at The Rosette. It was his very first time performing for anyone. He played his two pieces beautifully, and afterward shared what his experience with the guitar, and with Hector, means to him.

“It’s amazing. It truly changed my life. It does a lot for me. It gives me peace and it gives me happiness. I love this art of playing the guitar. It’s just beautiful. I’m really grateful for you. I’m thankful to have you as my teacher. You’ve done a lot for me. And no matter how many times I thank you, it’s never going to be as much as I mean it.”

#4 Teacher Summit: Where I’m From

This year’s teacher summit exceeded our expectations and lifted our spirits in remarkable ways. For the finale, teachers wrote personal poems, learned and practiced Travis Marcums piece “Where I’m From” and then gave a breathtaking performance. 

Learn more about the inspiration for this project in this blog written by Joshua Friedman, who is a new member of the ACG Development and GuitarCurriculum teams!

#3 Clarice Assad: Do What’s In Your Heart 

At ACG we bring our community together through creative collaborations and connections with artists because we believe music and kindness, together, make the world better. 

Last season triple Grammy-nominee Clarice Assad was our Artist-in-Residence. She made magic, and we captured it in this mini-documentary featuring 50 amazing young Austin artists, Jorge Caballero, the Mirò Quartet and a brand new piece called Mosaic Variations. Enjoy!

#2 ACG Education

Click this image and read this extraordinary letter from AISD Fine Arts Director Phillip Taylor, and you’ll see why ACG Education, something that started as a dream in one AISD school 21 years ago, is this year’s #2. So proud. So grateful.

#1 The Rosette!

In 2022 we opened our first home. The Rosette is a warm, beautiful, and welcoming space, and we look forward to sharing it with you for many years to come. It’s got its own website, and you can take a one-minute virtual tour here. Our deepest thanks go to Alamo Drafthouse founders Tim & Karrie League, without whom The Rosette could not exist.

Here’s one of our favorite Rosette concerts from 2022: Yamandu Costa! 

Thank You!

Everything we do at ACG is possible because of people who share our beliefs and choose to support our work. We would like to recognize the following individuals and institutions for their exceptional generosity during the past 12 months:   

3M Foundation, Ameriprise Financial, Ken Amstutz & Martha Carapetyan, Applied Materials Foundation, John & Diana Argersinger, Patrice Arnold, Arnold Foundation, in honor of Lazan Pargaman, atsec information security, Austin Thyroid & Endocrinology, A Gift in Honor of Glenn A. Belcher, A Gift in Honor of Paula F. Belcher , Shannon Belcher, Sandra S. Bosley, Kelley Bowen, Dan Bullock & Annette Carlozzi, The Family of Lynne Hsu Xavier, Megyn L. Busse, MD, Sarah & Ernest Butler, Pietro J. Caporusso, Edwina Carrington, Mike Chesser, Francisco & Graciela Cigarroa, City of Austin, Dr. Richard & Martha Coons, Corporate Environmental Solutions, The D’Addario Foundation, David & Christy Dauphin, Tres Davis & Paul Rogers, Stacia & Walt DeBill, Dr. Joaquin Delgado, Vince & Donna Lee DiLoreto, Bob Duke & Judith Jellison, Lucy & Bill Farland, Michael & Carol Fields, John & Miwa Flaherty, Ford Foundation, Kendal & Ken Gladish, Google, Laura Gutierrez-Witt, H-E-B, Ed & Janet Hess, Jacqueline Fox & Frank Hoffman, Richard N. Jernigan, Jewish Communal Fund, Jim & Marion Jirsa, Jim & Jennifer Judkins, Kaman Foundation, Elaine & Michael Kasper, Patrick Keel, Kristopher & Carey Kepler of Crossfit Central, Kodosky Foundation, Marty Kopra & Tom Gretzinger, Bob & Mary Pat Kozdemba, Karrie & Tim League, Debra Lewis, Long Foundation, Richard Mattingly, Katherine & Reid McCoy, Louise Epstein & John Henry McDonald, Carson & Michele McKowen, Mercedes-Benz of Austin, Bill Metz, Meyer Levy Charitable Trust, Mike Levy, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Delia & Ryan Mitchell, Kathleen Monahan & Mike Mullen, Patricia Ann Morrison, MFS Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation, Christa Pandey, Lazan & Bill Pargaman, Lloyd & Ferrell Pond, Kyle Pratt & Linda Longoria, Kerry & Carole Price, Rich & Caryn Puccio, Marcia Raff, The Raley Family, Raj & Sally Randeri, Drs. Simone Scumpia & Ion Ratiu, Rea Charitable Trust, Rick & Valeri Reeder, Peach & Cynthia Reynolds, Jacqueline Rixen, Robert Rodriguez, Ruth J. Rubio, Shanti Foundation for Intercultural Understanding, Stark Martin Charitable Trust, Judith Stich, Still Water Foundation, Alexis Takvorian, Texas Bar Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Women for the Arts, Tom Green & Company Engineers, Inc., TIAA, Russ & Janey Trowbridge, Brian & Virginia Urban, Webber Family Foundation, Maria Wells, White Lilacs Fund at Austin Community Foundation, Duwain Whitis & Barbara Vinson, Catherine & David Wildermuth, Suzanne & Marc Winkelman, Jack & Vanessa Wolfe, Leslie & David Wolff Family Foundation, Greg Wooldridge & Lynne Dobson, Wright Family Foundation, Zack Zamora

Bonus Item

In our last concert of 2022, something beautiful happened. ACG’s Matt Hinsley, Angelica Campbell, and Justice Phillips did a special rendition of one of the world’s most beloved songs. Enjoy!

Support ACG! We’ve just announced our end-of-year $250,000 fund drive goal to support our programming in more than 60 local schools, juvenile justice centers, medical centers, and shelters, as well as the activation of our new ACG home, The Rosette! Donate here.

This year’s season theme, Home, is probably the most personally meaningful theme I’ve been a part of during my time at ACG. 

I believe Home has a lot of different meanings, and I believe exploring them is a super powerful thing to do. During my young life, I called many different cities, places, and people home and I cherish each and every one.

Gary, Indiana is the place I have the most memories from my early childhood. I lived there from ages 4 through 9 with my mother and my brother. That experience had a profound effect on me. 

 

Writing a piece about Gary was a way to honor the experience I had as a child because I find myself missing it sometimes.

In the piece, Gary, Indiana, I intended to create images of the cold, snow, and Christmas because that’s how I remember it best. I did this by using ethereal harmonies and a floating texture. 

This piece is specifically linked to one Christmas memory I have from when I was 7 years old. My mom, my brother, and I were opening presents and there was a news crew there to document us doing so. I remember loving that experience a lot, and when I went back to school some of my friends even mentioned to me that they saw me in the paper!

Listen to Gary, Indiana here:

Our season theme is HOME. We will dive into the natural world, culture, and human connection, and we’re inviting you to participate all along the way! Learn all about Home and the centerpiece concert of our season with Artistic Director, Joe Williams, and Director of Education, Travis Marcum, in our upcoming ACGtalks: Home breakfast on Wednesday Feb. 8 at 9:30am. We hope you’ll join us. Learn more here. We would like to thank atsec information security for their generous sponsorship of Marek’s residency and our home project. 

We are so thrilled about Marek’s arrival from Poland last week! There’s already so many exciting things happening!

During his 2022-23 residency, Marek is working with more than eighty guitarists of all ages, across Texas, to make a monumental tribute to our planet that we’ll premiere on February 18.

They had their first large rehearsal at Akins High School last week!

The ensemble was separated into five groups of differentiating ages who will be preparing a stand-alone movement of the work for the performance in the Spring. Each group will be connecting with Marek throughout his residency in preparation for the premiere of this amazing work. 

This collaboration is inspired by the natural world and our season theme, Home. Learn more about the creative process and themes here.

Marek will spend the next few weeks not only continuing this collaboration, but connecting with our community in profound ways. He has already met with some of our Community Ensembles like the ACGYO and has met with the UT guitar studio for a master class!

 We are so grateful for Marek’s presence here with us! We are looking forward to the many magical and educating moments we’ll get to share moving forward in his residency. 

Read the next story in our Home series here.