Education Blog

Through ACG Education, we have witnessed firsthand how music can transcend boundaries, touch hearts, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. Learn more about ACG Education here. If you would like to support this work with a donation, click here. 

At Austin Classical Guitar, we believe that thoughtful and passionate teaching is the key to creating transformative connections with our students. When a young person finds even a little success and encouragement in our classrooms, it cracks opens the door for fascination. Guitar becomes a vehicle for expression, inspiration, validation, and growth.

Over the past two decades, we’ve had the privilege of building and supporting guitar education programs in schools across the United States. Again and again, we’ve seen how music can bring positive change to people’s lives in countless ways.

Today, we’re thrilled to share new data that highlight remarkable student success right here in Austin. We’d also like to introduce you to some of the caring and talented teaching artists on our team who enhance our ACG Education services with free lessons in Title 1 schools each week.

From the data, three powerful headlines emerge:

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

All-Region Success: The Impact of Our Free Lessons Program

The All-Region Guitar Ensemble is a selective honor that recognizes the top student guitarists from schools across the area. For participants, the audition process offers a rare chance to showcase their talent and measure themselves against their peers. Earning a spot in the ensemble is a powerful source of pride and motivation.

For Austin Classical Guitar, it’s one of the few opportunities we have to see how close we are to achieving our goal of leveling the playing field in music education for all students, regardless of income or zip code. Success means seeing students from Title I schools—where resources are often limited—actively participating, auditioning, and being chosen alongside their peers from more affluent campuses.

Our Free Lessons Program plays a vital role in making that success possible. Through the dedication of our Teaching Artists, many of whom were once ACG students themselves, we’re able to provide instruments, private lessons, and mentorship to dozens of young people across Austin who might not otherwise have access to one-on-one instruction. Their work is the foundation that allows students from Title I campuses to prepare for and excel in opportunities like All-Region.

This past year’s results show remarkable progress:

• The number of Title I schools represented in All-Region doubled, growing from six to twelve.
• The number of students auditioning from those campuses increased by 44 percent overall.
• At Northeast High School, every participating student came through ACG’s Teaching Artist Program, a powerful example of how direct mentorship and free lessons open doors to opportunity.
• The number of Title I students selected for the All-Region Ensemble rose from 19 to 23, a clear sign that access and excellence are expanding hand in hand.

The Heart of the Work: Our Teaching Artists

Behind every statistic are the remarkable musicians and educators who make this work possible. Our Teaching Artists are more than instructors; they are mentors, role models, and creative leaders who carry ACG’s mission into classrooms across the city.

At the same time, Austin’s affordability challenges make it increasingly difficult for artists to sustain careers here. We’re proud that ACG can provide meaningful, consistent income for local musicians while enriching the lives of thousands of students. In 2024–25, ACG invested nearly $100,000 in our Teaching Artists, supporting both student learning and the health of Austin’s creative community.

“Teaching through ACG brings me so much joy! I started classical guitar because of ACG from someone doing the work that I currently do: going into public schools and sharing my love for the instrument. I am very passionate about the guitar and it’s a special opportunity for me to share that passion with young musicians in the Austin area. My path with guitar has truly come full circle in the fact that I am doing the work that introduced me to this world, which is just so cool to think about.” – Alex Lew, ACG Alumni, Teaching Artist, and YO Assistant Director

“ACG does an amazing job of providing beautiful music making experiences for kids and the Austin Community and the fact that I am able to be a part of their journey really motivates me to be a better teacher, musician, and person. Some of my proudest moments in my career have been thanks to ACG’s teaching artist program. Being able to help a student succeed in their goals as a musician is deeply rewarding to me and seeing my students thrive thanks to the programs that ACG provides is amazing.” – Rey Rodriguez, ACG Alumni, Teaching Artist, and SAGE Assistant Director

“I’m always deeply inspired by the mission that drives ACG. It’s amazing to see that mission come to life every time I teach a lesson, conduct an ensemble, attend a rehearsal, visit a guitar classroom, or even just chat with a colleague. What brings me the most joy is witnessing a student’s realization of how far they’ve come. These moments happen at different points in their journey — after a performance, an audition, or even during a lesson when they finally hear themselves sounding the way they imagined. Seeing their pride and growth reminds me of the incredible doors ACG opens for students through all of us who share in this work. It’s a joy to know that through music, we’re helping students discover not only their talent but also their confidence and self-expression.” – Gema Ornelas, ACG Teaching Artist and Chamber Ensemble member

“Sharing my love of guitar with the students at Lively Middle School has been a true blessing. I cherish the moments when a student makes themselves proud after working hard to overcome a challenge. Having faced my own learning barriers in the past, I can empathize deeply with my students and offer practical tools to help them move through obstacles. This work is both humbling and deeply rewarding, and I’m grateful to ACG for making such a meaningful contribution to our community. I studied classical guitar alongside composition, and that foundation inspires my work as a singer-songwriter and community musician. I facilitate healing-centered songwriting groups and love sharing music in spaces where creativity and connection thrive. Austin’s music community feels like a family, and being part of it through performance and service continues to inspire me every days.” – Shayna Sands, ACG Teaching and Music & Healing Artist

“Working with ACG has brought a lot of fulfillment into my life. I work at a high school in San Antonio with students who are really excited about having someone to guide them farther into their journey with classical guitar. I started in a public school program like they did and it feels really amazing to help students that have so much potential and see them grow!” – Jesse Reece, ACG Teaching Artist

“I have really enjoyed working with ACG because it really feels like I am giving back to the community. Growing up I was fortunate enough to get free lessons from my teachers who knew I couldn’t afford it and I am so happy to do the same for kids now. Also having the chance to help kids find their way to college has been a big goal for me and happy to have the space to do it with ACG.” – David Manzanares, ACG Teaching Artist

“I love teaching students how fun and expressive the guitar can be. Watching them improve, gain confidence, and reach their goals is deeply rewarding. It is inspiring to see how excited students and their families are about learning the guitar, especially when they perform a solo piece for the first time and begin to find their own artistic voice.” – Jeremy Waldrip, ACG Teaching Artist

“When I do my work with ACG, I am frequently greeted by a student saying “I am so glad you’re here, I really need your help on this one part!” By then end of our lesson they say “thank you so much, this really helped me!” I can’t help but smile and feel joy! It gives me great joy to be a part of their progress, even more so knowing that these students could not afford private lessons. Working with ACG allows me to use my experience and expertise to help students feel confident.” – Cesar Gomez, ACG Teaching Artist

“Working with ACG has been such a bright spot in my life, and I’m super grateful for it every single day. It’s not just about getting to play and teach guitar all the time; it’s also about the amazing people I get to work with. I feel really lucky to be surrounded by such empathetic, driven, and caring folks. Whether I’m leading my adult guitar classes, hanging out one-on-one with a student, or working on the lullaby project, it all feels so rewarding and gives me a real sense of purpose. It’s like being part of a community filled with love, and it honestly doesn’t feel like work—it feels like a mission.” – Arnold Yzaguirre, ACG Teaching and Music & Healing Artist

New Data: Guitar students out-perform their peers in Title 1 Schools

At Austin Classical Guitar, we believe that music has the power to transform lives — and recent data from our Title 1 school programs in Austin ISD reinforces that belief.

Using data from the just-completed 2024-25 school year, we compared academic and behavioral measures of students enrolled in our Title 1 middle and high school guitar programs with their non-guitar peers at the same campuses. The results were inspiring!

Title 1 Middle Schools

The middle school data includes 9 campuses with 627 guitar students.

Guitar students outperformed their non-guitar peers in every STAAR-tested subject where data was available:

• Reading: +5.36%
• Math: +2.22%
• Writing: +1.49%
• Science: +4.9%

Guitar students also had lower suspension rates — 8.93% compared to 14.26% for non-guitar peers, a 5.33% reduction.

Title 1 High Schools

The high school data includes 5 campuses with 392 guitar students.

Guitar students outperformed their peers in all STAAR subjects and End-of-Course (EOC) exams:

• Reading: +3.95%
• Math: +3.11%
• Writing: +4.92%
• Science: +11.51%
• Social Studies: +8.56%

EOC exams:

• Biology: +8.78%
• English I: +3.55%
• English II: +1.88%
• US History: +10.74%

Guitar students also had less than half the suspension rate of their peers — 6.12% compared to 13.19%.

Region Ensemble Participation Summary: 2024–2025 Overall Participation  

• Total students auditioned: increased from 59 in 2024 to 86 in 2025 — a 46% growth. ● Total schools represented: rose from 10 to 17 — a 70% increase. ● Title 1 participation: the number of Title 1 schools represented doubled (6 to 12), and Title 1 student participation increased by 44%. 

Free Lessons Program Impact  

• Free lesson recipients auditioning: grew from 19 to 29 — a 53% increase. ● Free lesson recipients accepted: rose from 8 to 10, even as overall competition  increased. 
• The program reached new campuses, including Northeast High School, where all participating students are part of the Teaching Artist program. 

Free Lessons recipients earned top placements, including a first chair placement and a  sixth chair finish by our Javier Niño Scholarship recipient.  

Title 1 Engagement  

Participation from Title 1 schools continues to be strong:  

● Title 1 students accepted: increased from 19 in 2024 to 23 in 2025. ● Title 1 schools represented among accepted students: rose from 4 to 5.

Why does this matter?

These consistent academic gains and lower suspension rates tell a powerful story: In schools that often face the toughest challenges, guitar is a catalyst for engagement, learning, and positive behavior. These classes are helping kids find their voices, build confidence, and thrive.

At ACG, we’re proud to be part of these students’ journeys — and we’re committed to bringing the power of music to every classroom that needs it.

The 25-26 school year is underway. ACG is investing a million dollars in our education services this year. As you’ll read in the report below, ACG Education enriches the lives of thousands of young people and families in communities near and far. If you are inspired by this work we hope you will consider making a gift as part of our Fall Fund Drive. Click here to donate.

Dear Friends of ACG Education,

It is a joy to share this education report with you. For more than two decades, ACG has brought inspiration and artistry to students and teachers across Austin, the US, and beyond. This year, we supported a record number of students and teachers – building new guitar education communities. We created deep and meaningful project-based experiences for young guitarists working alongside some of the most accomplished artists in the world. In this report you’ll find stories, new data, and reflections of the work. What connects it all is the powerful truth we see each day: ACG Education transforms lives.

I am beyond grateful to you, our supporters, who helped us invest over $1 million into this work this year, and to the educators, students, and partners, who carry it out with passion and dedication each day near and far.

Together, we are building pathways to a more kind and beautiful world. 

Travis Marcum PhD

Carol Jean Mosher Knupp Director of Education

Austin & Central Texas Impact

How this transforms lives: Our deepest work happens here, thousands of hours a year, making sure our teachers succeed even if they’re new, giving free lessons and guitars for kids in need, and making uniquely motivating projects and unforgettable memories. In addition to friendship, joy, identity, and expression, data shows our students are doing better in school. The impact of our programs is significant: there are now more students in Austin ISD middle and high schools enrolled in guitar than there are in orchestra or choir. 

Our central Texas education services focused on Austin, Manor, Hutto, San Marcos, and juvenile justice centers in Travis and Williamson counties. 

In a 2025 study of over 1,000 guitar students in our 14 Title 1 schools, AISD data shows that guitar students had improved STAAR test and End-Of-Course exam scores in all subject areas, as well as reduced behavioral referrals than their non-guitarist peers when matched by campus and demographic. This continues the same trend from a similar 2024 study. 

How do we achieve these results? We help young people discover their voices, build confidence, and create community through the guitar. We accomplish this by a deep dedication to our research-based methodology called the Five Elements:

Belonging – Personal Responsibility – Perseverance – Performance – Celebration

This guiding philosophy helps ensure that every individual that picks up a guitar with us – everyone who offers their time, efforts, and creativity walks away from an ACG experience with a sense of accomplishment, with community, and a feeling of deep personal significance. We believe this translates into success and confidence in other areas of life. 

Special thanks to W.D. Kelley Foundation, Applied Materials Foundation, and Burdine Johnson Foundation for helping make possible our work in Hutto/Williamson County, Manor, and San Marcos, respectively.

Teaching Artistry

How this transforms lives: Our Teaching Artist team makes a huge impact on area students. In many cases they, themselves, are former ACG students as well. Much is written about Austin’s affordability challenges for working musicians and we are proud to be a secure and significant source of revenue for our teaching, healing, and performing artists, as well as our full time staff. 

In 2024-25 ACG invested close to $100,000 in our contract teaching artists, providing both vital support for our students and a significant source of income for local artists. This work doesn’t just nurture today’s learners, it helps sustain our city’s creative community.

Some of our most inspiring stories involve former students returning to join the team as Teaching Artists. Rey Rodriguez, once a student at Crockett High School and Francisco De La Rosa from Akins High School are recent examples. Both began their journeys as students in ACG classrooms, and today they are leading the next generation of young guitarists, continuing the cycle of mentorship and inspiration. Read more about Rey and Francisco.

Student Success Spotlight: Eric Xavier Briones

How this transforms lives: Individual attention makes all the difference. While some families can afford private instruction and instruments, many cannot. For 24 years we’ve provided free lessons to support students and teachers. Decades of success stories of our scholarship recipients prove the transformative, long-lasting impact of this investment.

Over 50 promising young Title 1 school students qualified for intensive, weekly, individual lessons through our free lessons program in 2024-25. Here’s one story. 

As a high school senior Eric Xavier Briones had a clear vision: he wanted music to make the world better with music. He just needed some help getting there. Eric applied for and won our  Javier Niño Scholarship, and was paired with ACG Teaching Artist Evan Taucher. By the spring Eric’s next goal was clear: go to the University of Miami to study guitar and music therapy. While this goal was lofty, so was the passion and dedication with which he approached every moment. It takes a village, and through ACG mentors, teachers, advisors, and donors, he had the support he needed to make his dreams come true. He has just started his first semester at the University of Miami and is loving every minute of it.

Of special significance is Eric’s volunteerism. When he read an ACG newsletter about our work in the Juvenile Justice System, he asked if he could join that program as a peer mentor. He dedicated himself to the work and made a huge impact on students in our long-term engagement program (see below). Read more about Xavier, his vision for music and human healing.

Special thanks to The Long Foundation, Webber Family Foundation, and Ameriprise for helping make this work possible.

GuitarCurriculum

How this transforms lives: Originally published in 2008, this first-of-its-kind flagship resource is used by teachers internationally. In 2000 America had orchestra, choir, and band in schools but not guitar. Guitar programs are now engaging tens of thousands of students everyday, and ACG’s GuitarCurriculum is the curricular infrastructure at the center of that development. 

After ten months of planning and development, we launched the new GuitarCurriculum.com in February. The new site is sleeker, more organized, and is supported by more current applications. The development process allowed us to reimagine how we wanted teachers to interact with the site and implement new approaches and materials, including the first-ever Student Portal. This new site launch, with its data management and marketing capabilities, is necessary to support our efforts to scale ACG Education.

GuitarCurriculum Method Books

How this transforms lives: Thousands of ACG method books are already in circulation after just two years since we introduced them. These resources are providing teachers with clear and concise pathways to rapid success in the classroom. 

The impact and demand for our Level 1-4 Method Book inspired us to work on a sequential Method Book that covered the upper levels of our curriculum. The Level 5-8 Teacher Method Book was released in July, 2025, and includes 9 newly composed pieces that give access to new techniques (slurs, arpeggios) and upper position reading/literacy. The careful attention to sequencing allows these new goals to be accessible by a larger range of student experiences. The companion student edition, released in August, will be on music stands in front of learners all across the country, and will include access to materials on the Student Portal through QR codes.

Concert and Sight Reading

How this transforms lives: Concert and Sightreading events provide a focal point for students and instructors, set standards for quality education, and give administrators data by which to evaluate their instructors. This is a crucial step to maintain high quality instruction in the context of out statewide scaling efforts. 

ACG’s Education team has been developing and supporting Guitar Concert and Sight Reading programs across the state of Texas for over 10 years. These events give students and directors an opportunity to prepare and perform for an adjudicated performance and sight reading. This past school year, the team furthered their engagement by developing new materials to support contest organizers and directors, and by providing in person support to events in Austin, Brownsville, Edinburg, Houston, El Paso and Denton. Our team witnessed accomplished smiles on the faces of almost 100 performing groups from across the state.

State and National Engagement

How this transforms lives: When we travel across the nation giving talks and training teachers more educators learn of the benefits of and methodology for high quality guitar education. Over time this will result in many thousands more young Americans finding joy and meaning in school through arts engagement. 

In October, 2024, we had an opportunity to meet with Fine Arts directors from across the State of Texas at the annual Texas Fine Arts Administrators conference in Austin. In January we led professional development for the guitar teachers in Brownsville ISD, a community rich in the arts and talented educators.

We’ve deepened our connection to the South Carolina community across two visits. In February, Phil Swasey presented at the South Carolina Music Educators Association annual conference, and in July our education team returned for the 3rd year of our South Carolina Teacher Summit, where we worked with over 20 amazing educators from across the country.

In June, Travis Marcum, Joe Williams, and Matt Hinsley gave lectures about community centered art making at the Guitar Foundation of America International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Tony Mariano and Phil Swasey traveled to Oklahoma City in July to speak at the annual Leyenda Foundation’s “Come Together Conference”, a gathering of guitar educators from across the country.

At our National Teacher Summit in July in Austin, we convened a special Leadership Summit with strategic partners from New York, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, and California.

National Teacher Summit

How this transforms lives: Our flagship training event each year attracts teachers from across the US and beyond. Since 2009 this annual training event has been our most direct method of preparing teachers for success, sharing not only our curriculum sequencing, but also our research-based teaching philosophy.

Our 2025 Teacher Summit attracted nearly 50 teachers for 16 immersive hours of training alongside community-building activities, a strategic leadership retreat, and a world-class flamenco concert. Following this year’s summit on trainee, Art Gomez from El Paso wrote:

“I just wanted to express my gratitude to every single one of you for the most amazing professional experience I have ever had in my life. I can only imagine how much time, planning and let’s face it, money went into putting it together. Just know that it is valued very much. We thought we were going to a Guitar Summit which would be professional development, never did I expect that it would be more like “spiritual” development. It was the most informative, motivating and fun training I have ever had. I have been using Guitar Curriculum for over 10 years but not until I met with you all in person were my eyes truly opened to ACG’s philosophy, and I immediately knew I wanted to be part of it. We may be over 550 miles across the state, but I see that as a good thing. That way we may help to spread that philosophy across El Paso and perhaps beyond.”

Special thanks to the Augustine Foundation, Meadows Foundation, Cain Foundation, Kaman Foundation, and The Rea Charitable Trust for their transformative support for GuitarCurriculum developments, state and national advocacy, and our services for communities in need. 

Global Services

How this transforms lives: When we encounter motivated and talented leaders in areas of great need we invest time, money and materials to enable them to create sustainable engines for joy and togetherness in music for their community. 

M-LISADA organization in Uganda is an orphanage system that places great value on music and dance for their community. To date, ACG has provided 45 guitars and footstools, along with hundreds of replacement strings, as well as extensive remote teacher training. The results have been astonishing.

Ravindra Paudyal in Kathmandu, Nepal has been leading an extraordinary program for youth in his city. ACG supports this work with curriculum and financing when possible. Regular performance videos show extraordinary progress and a high standard.

Juvenile Justice Services

How this transforms lives: ACG built the first and only for-credit daily performing arts course for incarcerated youth in Texas history. Music in juvenile detention is a lifeline of friendship, trust, and community surrounding an activity rooted in beauty and self-expression that has the potential to alter the personal narrative for some of our most vulnerable youth.

In 2024-25 ACG Juvenile Justice Services served over 30 students in Austin’s Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, and Gardner Betts Facilities, our new ACG Long-term Engagement Program, Williamson County Juvenile Services, and Dallas County’s Henry Wade and Medlock facilities. The programs delivered meaningful, sustained music-making experiences offering consistency, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment in environments where those things can feel out of reach.

Our Long-term Engagement Program completed its first full year serving court-involved youth in the community. Six students participated, coming together for regular group instruction, and forming the Vita Ensemble which performed several times throughout the year. One ensemble member prepared for UIL Solo & Ensemble for the first time–his hard work was rewarded with a rating of ‘excellent’ – a huge accomplishment for someone who had never imagined himself in that setting. Another member of the group gave his very first presentation as a young artist, sharing both his story and his music in front of an audience. These moments – students taking risks, finding success, and even being recognized with their first paid performances – show what’s possible when they are given the space and trust to grow into their roles as artists. 

Another unforgettable moment came during the JJAEP group’s first-ever offsite performance at The Rosette. One student, who had been visibly nervous, stepped onto the stage with hesitation. But as soon as he played that first note, everything shifted – he smiled, and it was as if all the nerves melted away. The entire group, who at first seemed indifferent – like they were just going through the motions – transformed before our eyes. They played with pride, and their smiles at the end were genuine and full. Seeing them celebrated in a space that recognized their artistry rather than their circumstances was deeply moving. 

In Dallas, the program has continued to grow under the leadership of Dr. Noe Garcia. We now have three active groups there, and the trust and relationships being built week after week are remarkable. We were also able to welcome a new student into the program through a referral from a probation officer, marking the first Post Engagement referral in that area. That student has since been awarded his own instrument – a small but powerful reminder of how one “yes” can create a turning point in a young person’s life.

Special Thanks to the W.D Kelley Foundation, Wright Family Foundation, Texas Bar, Mockingbird Foundation, and FInd Your Light Foundation for supporting this significant work.

Community Ensembles: Celebrating 25 Years

How this transforms lives: making music should be a lifelong activity full of joy and connection. The years-long relationships we’ve built in the last quarter-century making music with our community have resulted in friendship, collaboration, and countless memories.

The 2024-2025 Season marked ACG Community Ensembles’ 25th year. The program grew from four to six ensembles this year adding the ACG Youth Sinfonia and the South Austin Guitar Ensemble (SAGE). In the coming year, we will introduce a seventh ensemble, ACG Youth Prelude, created especially for elementary-aged artists beginning their journey of growth, connection, and joyful music-making together.

To celebrate 25 years of community music-making, ACG commissioned nationally renowned and wildly inventive composer Graham Reynolds to write a multi-movement guitar ensemble work entitled Superheroes. This ambitious and exciting composition draws inspiration from four legendary superheroes, Powerman, Storm, Scarlet Witch, and Rocket Raccoon, and culminates in the finale Together We Will Save the Universe. The joy we experienced the night of the premiere together was deep and profound, and the memories will remain with those community artists for a long time.

Special thanks to Richard Linklater & Detour Filmproduction and Karrie & Tim League for their generous support of our 25th Anniversary Commission of Graham Reynolds’ Superheroes. 

Turner Roberts Community Center

How this transforms lives: Families across Austin, especially in the eastern corridor often have difficulty finding free or affordable engagement opportunities for elementary-aged students after school while parents are still working. Successful artistic and expressive experiences for these students provides a catalyst to creativity, highlighting the value of their voice and laying a pathway for guitar engagement at the middle and high school levels. 

In Spring 2025, ACG Education began a program in collaboration with local nonprofit organization Equidad ATX designed specifically to serve elementary aged youth in Austin’s eastern crescent. This program gives students attending the Turner Roberts Recreational Center for after-school engagement, the opportunity to learn and perform classical guitar with teaching artist and instructor Rey Rodriguez.

Spanish Language Support

How this transforms lives: Language access is not just a logistical support – it’s a bridge to belonging, healing, and expression. Providing these resources has not only assisted individual students but has also empowered teachers to enrich classroom environments overall, fostering a sense of inclusion and community that benefits everyone.

This year we expanded our Spanish-language video support, added new curricular materials, added Spanish language material to our student portal resource, and conducted Spanish language assistance teacher training.

Here’s a story from the Gardner Betts Juvenile Detention Center: A student who spoke only Spanish arrived feeling isolated and discouraged. Early in the semester, he was devastated when he narrowly missed earning his incentive reward, but that same day, after we played Blue Magic together, he smiled quietly, placed his hand over his heart, and said, “Se siente bonito tocar eso – lo siento aquí adentro.” (“It feels really nice to play that – I can feel it in me in a good way.”)

Carol Jean Mosher Knupp Endowment Fund

How this transforms lives: Growth in our endowment means sustained funding for ACG Education resulting not only in long-term support, but also the ability to make critical investments as we work to change the world. 

In December, 2024, the Ben and Nancy Sander Family gave a major gift to the ACG endowment creating our first named office. Dr. Travis Marcum, who has been with ACG for twenty years, is now the Carol Jean Mosher Knupp Director of Education at Austin Classical Guitar. This represents a huge step toward our goal of creating a $10 million endowment to create and sustain the ACG Education Institute, which will scale and support guitar education nationally for years to come.

Spotlight Story 1: Randy Avers & Student Composers

How this transforms lives: when students’ artistry is supported, taken seriously, and given a platform, learning is amplified, memories are made, and everyone who witnesses the results is inspired. 

In Fall of 2024, composer, guitarist, and our dear friend Randy Avers joined us in Austin all the way from Norway to celebrate the idea that beautiful music can be created with intention as gift to another person. Randy wrote and prepared an entire program of deeply personal pieces written for and with his friends. At the same time, three incredible students worked with him, and ACG Education Director Travis Marcum, to compose pieces for loved ones in their lives. All of this hard work culminated in two public, world-class concerts presented in the spirit of giving. Here, you can see Bowie High School Senior (now UT Austin Composition Freshman) and Randy perform her piece Ancestor, written as a gift to her family members long past.

Spotlight Story 2: Pepe Romero & Students

How this transforms lives: when students’ artistry is supported, taken seriously, and given a platform, learning is amplified, memories are made, and everyone who witnesses the results is inspired. 

GIVE was a major project devoted to intergenerational collaboration, cultural exchange and generosity.  It ran from August 2024 through May 2025 and brought together nine young guitar students to perform with ACG’s Artist in Residence, the legendary guitarist Pepe Romero.  The project was guided by our 34th Season theme, also named Give, which was a celebration of the gifts that each of us can choose to share and an invitation to notice how these gifts transform over the course of our lives.

It is important to know that Pepe Romero is one of the most significant living guitarists. For the past 65 years he has toured the world as an elite artist. In the 1960’s, Pepe Romero’s father founded Los Romeros with his sons. Together they established the guitar quartet as a new and important genre and developed an iconic repertoire of Spanish music.

The  students are of high school age and come from all over Austin: Paul Devens, Noah Melendrez, Kian Mitchell, Satvik Chawla,  Allen Liu,  Brandon Kim, Jianna Zamora, Teddy McCoy & Greg Sonnier. The students were grouped into three ensembles and prepared to perform with Pepe Romero playing Los Romero repertoire. Over 10 months, the three quartets were mentored by local teaching artists Joseph Palmer, Stephen Krishnan & Alex Lew with support from the ACG team (Travis Marcum, Tony Mariano & Joe Williams).  

Pepe worked with the students in week-long residencies in the Fall & Spring.  The project culminated in multiple performances across our city, most notably four major concerts on ACG’s internationally celebrated Live at The Rosette series. This was a long term unique project with deep investment in the education and artistic development of these young artists and that resulted in a life-changing experience. Read more about this project here. 

Special thanks to atsec information securities for ongoing sponsorship of our ACG Artist in Residence Program.

THANK YOU

ACG’s education programs thrive thanks to the generosity of those who share our belief in the power of music to transform lives. We are especially grateful to the following institutions and individuals for their significant support of our work over the past year:

The Sander Family, Augustine Foundation, Webber Family Foundation, Meadows Foundation, Cain Foundation, City of Austin, Kaman Foundation, Still Water Foundation, Karrie & Tim League, Mary Raley, Rea Charitable Trust, Texas Commission on the Arts, Greg Wooldridge & Lynne Dobson, Jacqueline Rixen, Debra Lewis, atsec information security, H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust, Louis & Mary Kay Smith Family Foundation, Jeff & Gail Kodosky, Kodosky Foundation, Megyn Leonor Busse, MD, Jack & Vanessa Wolfe, Bill & Terri Moyer, Applied Materials Foundation, Greg & Cindy Abell, IBC Bank Austin, Jeff & Jenifer Westphal Foundation, Martha P.Rochelle, Sarah & Ernest Butler, Scott & Sabrina Ellis, Texas Bar Foundation, University Area Rotary Club, Wright Family Foundation, Ed & Janet Hess, Lazan Pargaman, Louise Epstein & John Henry McDonald, Lucy & Bill Farland, Warren Skaaren Charitable Trust, Michael & Carol Fields, GuitarCollection.com, Kendal Gladish, Dr. Michael Froehls, Antonio & Sharon Ugalde, Ameriprise Financial Community Relations, Detour Film Production, Find Your Light, Joaquin Delgado, Law Office of Robert Littlefield Buford III, MFS Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation, Pietro Caporusso, Sangeeta Kaur & Hai Nguyen, Shanti Foundation for Intercultural Understanding, Zack & Whitney Zamora, Calido Guitars, D’Addario Foundation, FG4K, Strait Music, Dr. Robert Duke, Twin Liquors, New World Deli, and many others.

On Saturday, March 15, the AGCYO arrived in Marfa, TX!

They got a spectacular tour of the Chinati Foundation, founded by Donald Judd. They saw many modern art exhibits that challenged and broadened their perspectives.

Later that evening the ensemble performed at the Museum of the Big Bend with the Sul Ross University Quartet. This incredible collaboration was hosted by ACG’s long time friend, Nick Hurt.

Sunday, March 16, was the ACGYO’s last day in the beautiful West Texas desert.

They spent the day at Big Bend National Park where they recorded a music video on the Mexico border down at the Rio Grande! Their superstar filming was followed by a beautiful hike and swim in the Boquillas Canyon. With generous support from our long-time friends at Monkee-Boy Web Design, the music video is currently in production and will be released at the end of May. So stay tuned!

On Monday, March 17, the ACGYO made the long and windy trek from Marfa to San Antonio, TX where they performed for the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute.

Executive Vice President at UT Health San Antonio, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa introduced the performance, and afterward ACGYO members Jianna Zamora and Kian Mitchell joined two UTSA medical students in a panel dedicated to the transformative power of music moderated by ACG’s Matthew Hinsley and UTSA’s Dr. Matthew Dacso. 

This was an unforgettable experience and we want to share a big giant thank you to Mayor Jeryl Hoover and his team at the Fredericksburg Theater Company,  Katie Kizzar and Rachel Fuechsl at the McDonald Observatory, Haley Levin and Sensorea at the Chinati Foundation, Dr. Andrew Alegria at Sul Ross University, Audio Engineer Dan Childers, Nick Hurt and his video production team and Leon Paczkowski, as well as Dr Francisco Cigarroa, Dr. Matthew Dasco, Eve Crawford White, Jeremy Powley and the entire team at UT Health San Antonio.

Memories like this can be life-changing for the young people in our community. We feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to go on tour and create beautiful memories like these with the wonderful, dedicated, and hard working students that make up the ACG Youth Orchestra.

To our community: Thank you for your support and belief in our mission to create experiences of deep personal significance through music. 

The Javier Niño Memorial Scholarship at Austin Classical Guitar exists to honor the memory of a wonderful young man who brought joy through beauty and kindness to countless people during his lifetime, and to support young classical guitarists in Austin, Texas — through scholarship lessons and other means — who show great promise and who will benefit from access to expert instruction and mentorship. For the 2024-25 school year, after reviewing applications from many talented student musicians across Austin ISD, two stood out. We are proud to award scholarships to both of these deserving young artists.

Support ACG

Life is full of untapped possibilities—the chance to grow, to heal, to create, and to leave a meaningful mark. At ACG, we see this every day in the students who walk through our doors, each carrying unique promise. With every new school year, young people arrive ready to explore their potential, and we have the privilege of watching that potential transform into something vibrant, dynamic, and alive. It’s a breathtaking process, and it reminds us of the power and beauty in every student’s journey.

This year, we had the extraordinary honor of awarding the Javier Niño Scholarship to two remarkable young adults: Joshua Garcia from Crockett High School and Xavier Briones from East Austin College Prep. 

These scholarships recognize students who embody creativity, a commitment to making an impact, and a deep sense of humanity. 

After sitting down with Joshua and Xavier alongside our Education Associate, Rey Rodriguez, we were struck by their self-awareness and the profound ways they’ve embraced their potential—not just for personal growth, but for service to their communities.

Both Xavier and Joshua began their musical journeys in middle school guitar programs, unsure of where the path would lead. It didn’t take long for them to discover the profound opportunities music offered. For Joshua, music became a way to share his art and touch others’ lives. As he put it:

“Music reassures me that I can make a difference—it’s a connection to people.”

Xavier sees music as a beacon for a brighter future, not only for himself but for those around him. He dreams of guiding others toward their own passions and using music as a tool for healing. His words were deeply moving:

“I want to help people get back on their feet. My purpose is to help those who never had the opportunities I’ve had, just like me.”

What struck Rey and me most during our conversation was their maturity and understanding of the power they wield as musicians. Both Joshua and Xavier recognize their potential to harness music’s transformative power—to ignite passion in others, to foster deep connections, and to help people process and express their emotions in a positive way.

Xavier expressed this beautifully when he said:

“If you’re sad and just need to let out your emotions, music can help. Once you release those emotions, you’ll feel free, at peace, and relaxed.”

As we celebrate Joshua and Xavier’s achievements, we’re inspired by the paths they’re carving for themselves and others. Xavier, a senior, is applying to college to study Music Therapy and Music Education, with hopes of continuing his mission to serve and heal through music. Joshua, a junior, is working hard to build a career as a performer, using his talents to connect and inspire.

We are thrilled to see where their journeys lead and grateful for the chance to witness their potential in action. Through their art and their service, Joshua and Xavier remind us of the extraordinary impact music can have, and the incredible potential in every student we encounter.

We’re thrilled to announce that, this fall, music from Robert Rodriguez’s global cinematic sensations, Spy Kids, will be added to ACG’s GuitarCurriculum. GuitarCurriculum powers guitar classrooms all across the world, and we can’t wait for students everywhere to be inspired by this fun and exciting music.

This summer, we’re even creating a music video directed by Robert Rodriguez with nineteen amazing young players performing the new arrangement. In June we’re recording audio at Music Hill Studio, before filming at The Long Center. We’ll release the video soon!

We would like to thank Robert Rodriguez and Troublemaker Studios for his incredibly generous donation of both the music and his time, expertise, and film crew to make this project possible.

We’re deeply grateful for the support of Rod Hairston, Reginald Carter, Luke Torvinen, and everyone at Music Hill Studio and Music Hill Ranch. Special thanks to the Long Center and McCallum High School.

The Spy Kids arrangement for guitar ensemble was made by Rick Del Castillo and Matthew Lyons. On the ACG team, huge thanks to Matt Hinsley, Todd Waldron, Tony Mariano, and Jeremy Roye.

Our deepest thanks go to director Andrew Clark and the following amazing students and families: Sebastian Banks, Satvik Chawla, Nathan Dart, Paul Devens, Beck Hartman, Benjamin Johnson, Ethan Kuhlken, Mason Michulka, Ace Pearson, Teddy McCoy, Noah Melendrez, Nima Moin, Emily Piper, Sydney Piper, Juan Rodriguez, Regan Sims, Jaden Tao, and Jianna Zamora. Huge thanks to the film crew: Brian Bettwy, Luis Caffesse, Shiraz Jafri, Todd Smiley, Chris Smith, Joe Vasquez, and Steve Wilson, and to photographer Christina Castro.