The Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra(ACGYO) played a beautiful concert this past weekend. Right afterwards, the younger brother of one of the members announced loudly, “That was my kind of show. Cool – and not too long!” Then he added, “Maybe some day I can play with them too.”
“He just loves it,” one mother said about her son’s experience playing in the ensemble. “He gets so much joy out of playing with other kids.”
The ACGYO has performed in the Long Center, The Paramount Theater, the AISD Performing Arts Center, but this concert was in a smaller, more intimate space. Close as we were, we could hear all of the colors and subtleties the ensemble has worked so hard to develop all semester long. The playing was elegant and refined; it was easy to forget the youthfulness of the musicians.
From Ekachai Jearakul’s brilliant performance a week ago last Saturday, to an evocative night of original music and art with our Composer in Residence on Wednesday, to the laughter and tears at Thursday’s tribute to Travis Marcum’s ten years of leadership in education, and culminating with this weekend’s ACGYO performance, it was a full week, rich with moments of authentic beauty at once ephemeral and uniquely powerful.
Moments that left us feeling grateful.
Grateful that we are able to provide free instruments and lessons for kids in need, grateful for the opportunities to develop adaptive curricula so that all students can participate meaningfully in guitar class, grateful to the teachers in our community and around the world who bring such deep dedication to changing lives with music, grateful for our board members, staff and volunteers – and grateful for our many supporters like you, who make everything we do possible.
From all of us at Austin Classical Guitar, we send our warmest wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.
