New! ACG Music Library at The Rosette

Guitar is the world’s most popular instrument, and the results have been new students engaging in school-based performing arts by the tens of thousands. We learned this year that enrollment in our partner guitar classes is now second only to band amongst all AISD middle and high school music classes. We now have partner teachers in 45 Texas school districts and 40 states. Education has been our largest budget area at ACG since 2004. And it’s all possible thanks to friends like you. So, as we reach the end of another record-breaking school year, we’d like to thank you for helping make it all possible, and thank you for your belief in ACG, and in the power of music to do good in the world. Learn more about ACG Education here. Support ACG Education here

 

Guitarists! ACG is thrilled to announce the opening of our sheet music library at The Rosette. If you’re in Austin, make an appointment to visit and stop by. Wanna know if we have what you’re looking for? Click the link below and try a keyword search. Special thanks to the many donors over the years who have contributed scores to make this resource possible, and extra special thanks to Norma Hawes on our team, our tireless librarian, who has built our database and archived the collection.

 

https://austinclassicalguitar.org/music-library/


Notes from Nepal

Guitar Foundation Nepal is made possible thanks to a generous sustaining gift from Rick Reeder at Layer 3 Real Estate, who shares our belief that music can do good in the world. We’re so grateful for our many opportunities to work with teachers near and far who bring their passion into the classroom every day. If you’d like to join Rick and many others as an ACG sustaining donor, click here! Thanks to all our friends who make our programs possible.

 

We received something beautiful from Nepal this morning.

Ravindra is an EMS professional in Kathmandu. For five years his dream has been to work with ACG to create guitar classes for his community. While the pandemic slowed progress, it has been an incredible joy to work beside him as Ravindra has done the hard work to begin his program. He is now President of the newly formed Guitar Foundation Nepal, he’s got a space to teach, and classes began in March.

Today he wrote, “I am teaching ACG’s curriculum to our students at no cost thanks to our partnership. I believe music can be used for social welfare, and I believe this aligns with your vision at ACG.”

Ravindra sent us a video of one of his new classes! They’re playing Kasaya, by our Education Director Travis Marcum. “Kasaya is like a meditation in music with many dimensions,” Ravindra wrote. “It drew our attention immediately. The students were immersed right away. I honestly did not have to teach very much, because of their admiration for the music and the composer. It’s wonderful seeing their confidence build so quickly. When we play it, we don’t want the music to stop.”

Listen to them play here:


Juvenile Justice: Forever Lasting

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

 

We are delighted to present a recent recording by the students at Gardner Betts.

The recording, titled “Forever Lasting,” was created by the students in Travis County’s Gardner Betts Facility. What started as a simple warm-up exercise transformed into a composed and improvised piece that showcases the artistic growth and creativity of these remarkable young musicians. We are so proud of their dedication, hard work, and commitment to learn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfqwI8TduUw


Young Artist Concert and Class with Jorge Caballero

Young Artist Concert and Class with Jorge Caballero

May 4 at 7 pm
at The Rosette
3908 Avenue B, Austin TX 78751

On May 4th, we will be hosting a Young Artist Concert and Class with renowned classical guitarist, Jorge Caballero, at The Rosette.

This concert will feature some of the most beautiful and captivating pieces of music played by some of the most promising young guitarists we know in our community. See program below. 

The event will also feature a master class with Jorge Caballero, an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist who has been hailed by critics as a “musical genius.” His insights and guidance will undoubtedly help these young musicians take their talents to the next level. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the next generation of classical guitarists showcase their talents and learn from one of the most celebrated guitarists of our time!

 

Program: 

Cello Suite no. 1, Prelude – Johann Sebastian Bach
Michael Vetter

Gran Vals – Francisco Tárrega
Sydney Piper

En Los Trigales – Joaquin Rodrigo
Satvik Chawla

Capricho Árabe – Francisco Tárrega
Ethan Kuhlken


PLAY Finale: A Chat with Matthew Lyons

Join us this Wednesday, April 12 at Soundspace at Captain Quackenbush or Thursday, April 13 at The Rosette for a charming concert dedicated to Home as our PLAY series finale. Matthew Lyons and Stephen Krishnan come together as the MoonTower Duo with James Tabata to bring us new and original works of music that represent life, our home, and our community in its present form. Learn more and find tickets here

 

This week we had the chance to connect with a very special friend of ACG and a member of the MoonTower Duo, Matthew Lyons. 

Matthew’s journey with ACG started when he was 11 years old, performing at a student recital. He shared, 

“I remember messing up the end of whatever study I had poorly prepared and compensating for it by ending the piece with an AC/DC lick (and the look of bemusement on Matt Hinsley’s face afterwards). In the 20 years since then, I’ve grown to see ACG as an artistic home and supportive community. I’ve attended countless performances, arranged and composed works for numerous projects, and grown as a musician thanks to the educational and creative opportunities provided by ACG”

Not only is Matthew a beautiful guitar player, he also is a very talented composer! He finds inspiration in bringing joy to his listeners through his music the same way music brings joy to him. 

“I’m obsessed with colorful harmonies, infectious grooves, direct melodies, and the ways in which these elements can interact to stage an emotional journey for the listener. I view performing – especially performing my own music – as attempting to create a space in which an audience can feel connected through their shared experience of (hopefully) enjoying the music.”

Matthew first collaborated with his duo partner, Stephen Krishnan, for the first time in 2019 when Stephen performed a guitar concerto Matthew dedicated to him. Three years later, they reconnected to play duos they had written! Matthew shared,

“I love working with Stephen because he’s an incredibly flexible musician who’s down to experiment to discover new things about the music we play.”

The MoonTower Duo’s upcoming performance as part of our PLAY series finale promises variety. They will stretch the boundaries of what a classical guitar can be, playing a range of styles from delicate jazz waltzes to belligerent Tom Waits-inspired musical thrashings. Their music will showcase different sounds from the soft twinkling of guitar harmonics to resonant depth of the upright bass played by James Tabata!  

“We love stretching the notion of what a classical guitar concert can be, as the music we play is largely written by us or by musicians who aren’t part of the canon.”


ACG Originals: We've Always Known, Song Descriptions

For the last eight years, ACG Music & Healing has built beautiful connections in our community. This special initiative pairs songwriters with individuals experiencing profound challenges to use music as a pathway for connection and self-expression in creating original songs that give voice to their hopes, fears, and dreams. WE’VE ALWAYS KNOWN brings together four amazing singer/songwriters to re-interpret, re-visit and share some of these extraordinary pieces of music. Featuring guitarist Claire Puckett, violinist Camille Schiess, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Fears, and Music & Healing Director and guitarist Travis Marcum. Join us for this unforgettable evening on March 25-26. Find tickets here.

Below are the song descriptions for this concerts program.

 

In the Garden Green 

By Meg with Travis Marcum & Amelia DeVivo

In the Garden Green was written as a part of Lullaby Project in Spring 2019 by Meg for her son Garner. As she thought about meeting her baby for the first time, Meg used the familiar image of a garden as a symbol of growth and peace through the joy and challenges of life. Meg, her husband Tom and their now two little ones Garner and Cora are long time friends of Travis and Amelia. In the Garden Green was written together in friendship and support of the beautiful life ahead for their family. You can listen to the song here.

 

I am Strong

By L. with Claire Puckett

Community Partner: Red Oak Hope

I am Strong was written by L. in Summer of 2022 in collaboration with ACG community Partner Red Oak Hope. Red Oak Hope is a world-wide organization based out of Austin serving women who are victims of trafficking and exploitation. L. and Claire Puckett wrote a truly powerful song about perseverance in the face of doubt and adversity. You can hear L. singing I am Strong here

 

Beauty in My Pain

By Lexi with Daniel Fears

Community Partner: Texas Oncology

Beauty in My Pain was written in early 2023 by Lexi. During their time together, she and Daniel spent hours talking about hopes and fears, challenges and joys of life. Daniel describes Lexi as a truly gifted storyteller. Lexi wrote every lyric, creating a beautiful statement of faith and togetherness through the toughest of times. You can listen to the original song here

 

Miles to Go

By Christina with Travis Marcum & Claire Puckett

Community Partner: Livestrong Cancer Institutes 

Miles to Go was written in Fall of 2018 by Christina with Travis and Claire. Christina was a transcendent force for good and helped shape ACG’s Music and Healing Program with her guidance in piloting our first songwriting collaboration with community members undergoing cancer treatment. Christina wrote a vivid and honest piece about her experience with diagnosis and treatment. An accomplished seamstress and quilter, she used the imagery of patchwork and sewing to describe her familiarity with the “weight” and “wait” of this illness. She illuminated a powerful journey. Christina and her song forever changed ACG and the way that we connect with others. You can hear Miles to Go here

 

Meraki Lullaby

By Holly with Arnold Yzaguirre

Community Partner: Any Baby Can

Meraki Lullaby was written in late Summer 2018 as a part of Lullaby Project by Holly in partnership with local organization Any Baby Can. Holly chose this word Meraki meaning “essence of ourselves” to describe the feelings she had in anticipation of her baby coming into this world. Holly is a beautiful vocalist. She is full of joy and we at ACG are so grateful for her contribution. You can hear Holly and Arnold’s recording of Meraki Lullaby here

 

Don’t Wake Me

By D. with Claire Puckett and Travis Marcum

Community Partner: Red Oak Hope

Don’t Wake Me was written in Summer of 2020 by D. She created a truly imaginative and compelling vision of serenity in the face of a harsh and sharp world. D. took our Music and Healing Artists along on her journey to build an honest, whimsical portrait of transition through darkness. You can listen to Don’t Wake Me here

 

My Baby Princess

By Trimonisha with Joey Delahoussaye  

Community Partner: Travis Co. Correctional Complex

My Baby Princess was written by Trimonisha as a part of Lullaby Project in Spring of 2016 at Travis Co. Correctional Complex. Joey, ACG Music and Healing Artist would visit the facility, meeting with Trimonisha and transforming her stories, hopes and regrets into a love song for her daughter. Joey wrote: 

“When I met Trimonisha one of the first things she told me was that she and her six year old daughter Miracle had a tradition of lighting candles, drawing a bubble bath and putting on their “relaxation music”.  She let me into her world and allowed me to help her turn tears, joy and most of all her truth into a song that she and Miracle might one day listen to at their next bubble bath reunion. 

Trimonisha, thank you for putting your trust in me, someone that you didn’t really have a reason to trust. I hope you can take the bright spirit you showed to me and continue living it out in a world that hasn’t always been good to you.”

You can listen to My Baby Princess here

 

I Can Do This

By Dolly and Kourosh with Shayna Sands and Travis Marcum

Community Partner: Texas Oncology

I Can Do This was written by Dolly and Kourosh in late 2021 with Music and Healing Artist and austin singer-songwriter Shayna Sands. Dolly and her husband wanted to create a joyful and honest song of their long experience with cancer diagnosis, treatment, and the lessons learned along this journey. Inspired by Texas country acts like Robert Earl Keen, this song highlights the love between two people, the challenges inherent in their journey, and the gratitude and jubilation that is part of all life. The title for our concert “We’ve Always Known” comes from a line in this song. Dolly’s song tells us that the beauty of life and death is happening all around us and we’ve always known that it’s our connection to others that is the most important. You can see Shayna performing this song live here

 

Life

By Marcelina with Travis Marcum 

Community Partner: Lifeworks

Simply titled Life, Marcelina wrote this lullaby to her daughter in Fall of 2019 in partnership with Austin community organization LifeWorks. With a deep message of hope for her baby, Marcelina is a strong, patient young mother who wanted to impart two things to her child through the lullaby process. One, she wanted her daughter to know that life is long and sometimes hard, but if you pay attention, it is beautiful. And two, she wanted her daughter to know that the two of them are connected in every way… forever. You can hear Marcelina singing her lullaby here

 

I Keep You Strong

By Davis with Travis Marcum and Amelia DeVivo

Community Partner: Annunciation Maternity Home

Written in Summer of 2015, Davis’ lullaby called I Keep You Strong conveys a beautiful message of solidarity and common purpose for mother and child. Davis wanted to express her belief that, as mother and son, the two of them will build each other up in times of hardship and for him to know that she will always be there for him. You can listen to I Keep You Strong here.

 

Felix’s Lullaby

By Felix with Arnold Yzaguirre and Claudia Chapa

Community Partner: Travis Co. Correctional Complex

Felix’s Lullaby is a statement of hope for a better future. Arnold worked with her TCCC to craft a message to her four children that expresses the most important sentiment… I love you now and forever. It is a soft descent into a peaceful place, a better tomorrow. You can listen to Felix’s Lullaby here.


We've Always Known: About Our Music & Healing Artists

Throughout the month of March we will be shining a light on ACG Music & Healing. On March 25-26, we will present a concert of some of the most memorable songs created by Music & Healing artists and participants over the years. The concert is called We’ve Always Known, and we’ve never done anything like it. We hope you’ll join us! Learn more about ACG Music & Healing here

 

We are so excited to share ten stories and songs from our Music & Healing program in concert for the first time ever in a program called on We’ve Always Known March 25-26.

The concert will feature local superstars, Claire Puckett, Camille Sheiss, Daniel Fears, and our very own Travis Marcum. 

We wanted to take a moment to dive a little bit into the amazing things these artists do not only for ACG, but in their personal lives as part of the music community in Austin, TX. 

 

Claire Puckett was one of our first students in our Education programs here at ACG, just down the road at McCallum High School! We’ve been connected for many years now and we are continuously so blown away by everything she accomplishes as a musician and artist. 

Claire is a member of the chamber-rock band Mother Falcon – a collective of more than twenty musicians playing strings, horns, guitars, and percussion – as well as the band Hikes

Check out this incredible Tiny Desk performance by Mother Falcon:

https://youtu.be/JaoUMbHvsc0?t=513

 

Camille Sheiss is a very talented violinist, caring teacher, and a member of Magnolia Kids and American Dreamer

Their sounds fit in the space between indie, bedroom pop, jazz, and R&B. They found their sound by blending their classical, soul, and folk origins and being playful in their expression. 

Listen to Magnolia Kids here:

https://youtu.be/6zEyHsA0XhY

 

Singer-songwriter Daniel Fears graduated from the University of Texas and went on to get a masters degree from Yale with the intention of being a professional classical musician. However, life led him down the path of R&B and he went for it. 

This month he was nominated as KUTX’s Artist of the Month! You can read his interview here and listen to some of the magic he creates here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjVmJ4v_l0E

And last but certainly not least, ACG Director of Education and Music & Healing, Travis Marcum has helped build hundreds of classroom guitar programs worldwide. He is also the founder of ACG’s Music & Healing initiative, providing unique music programming for Austin community members experiencing significant challenges or trauma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhI0wYH-BvI

We could not be more excited and grateful to be able to connect with such beautiful human beings and share what they create with you, our community. 

Thank you.


ACG Music & Healing: What is a Music & Healing Artist?

Throughout the month of March we will be shining a light on ACG Music & Healing. On March 25-26, we will present a concert of some of the most memorable songs created by Music & Healing artists and participants over the years. The concert is called We’ve Always Known, and we’ve never done anything like it. We hope you’ll join us! Learn more about ACG Music & Healing here. Support ACG Music & Healing here

 

We are so excited to reimagine and share ten stories and songs from our Music & Healing program in concert for the first time ever in a program called We've Always Known, on March 25-26. Find tickets here.

The concert will feature local superstars, Claire Puckett from Mother Falcon and Hikes, Camille Sheiss from Magnolia Kids and American Dreamer, singer songwriter Daniel Fears, and our very own Travis Marcum.

ACG Music & Healing brings beauty, a medium of expression, and deep connection to individuals facing hardship or trauma, through music, community, and kindness. Our artists visit with participants for weeks connecting on hopes, dreams, memories, and reflections, to create an inspiring personal song together.

This week we had the chance to hear from Daniel Fears on what a Music & Healing artist is and some of things they have the opportunity to experience as part of this program. Listen to his reflection here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKWvU4mpkrY


HOME Concert Tour

HOME CONCERT TOUR

A collaboration between Albuquerque Academy, Austin Classical Guitar and Guitar New Mexico Youth Guitar Ensembles.

Guitars galore! Inspired by places, memories and experiences that evoke a sense of home, this unique endeavor will bring together around 40 High School classical guitar students to perform recently written works for guitar ensemble.

If you are near Albuquerque, New Mexico – join us for an amazing afternoon with these talented and dedicated young musicians!

 

Saturday March 11th, 3pm

Outpost Performance Space 210 Yale Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Tickets: $3-5 Info and tickets are available here

Sunday March 12th, 5pm

Albuquerque Academy Simms Auditorium – 6400 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM

Free and Open to the public