We at the Austin Classical Guitar Society would like to thank you for helping us make 2011 another incredible year of music on the classical guitar here in our great city.

Early in 2011 we learned of three different Austin Critics Table Awards for Austin Goes Classical. Our major concert programming presented artists from France, China, Spain, Cuba, Italy, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua. We took bold steps with two brand new series: Classical Cactus and Austin Guitar Salon. Nearly every event, in both series, all year long, has sold out! We forged a wonderful new partnership with La Sombra Bar and Grill as we highlighted music and musicians of Central and South America for our Pasión Summer Series. And our crowning achievement in presentation was, of course, Austin Pictures (read review here) for more than 1,500 at ACL Live on October 1st.

2011 saw the addition of two important new education programs: one we started in August at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the other that began last January at Gardner Betts of the Travis County Juvenile Justice System. Our local education services nearly doubled coming into the fall with well beyond 1,000 young people involved – and our school curriculum is being used by more educators around the world each month, who are looking to build programs similar to the ones we have been fortunate enough to develop here.

We recently announced our end-of-year matching campaign to raise $40,000. Now is a particularly great time to donate because your gift will go twice as far! Donate Online or call 512-300-ACGS. A 5-year, $50,000 grant that has been generously offered by The Meyer Levy Charitable Foundation, Tobin Janel Levy & Michael R. Levy in support of our Educational Outreach Program. Through this grant, the Meyer Levy Charitable Foundation will match up to $10,000 in donations from our community that arrive by this December 31st!

So on behalf of the ACGS Board of Directors, and our incredible staff and volunteers, I would like to thank you for the value you place on the arts in our community, and for your generous support.

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Matthew Hinsley, Executive Director

Austin Classical Guitar Society