A Classical Guitar Evening with Akins High Students at Bauer House

Classical guitar music filled the air at a dinner and reception hosted by Francisco Cigarroa, Chancellor of the University of Texas System. The focus of the evening was how the Austin Classical Guitar Society, the AISD, the University of Texas and the classical guitar are positively changing the lives of thousands of diverse young Texans.

UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa welcomed AISD to Bauer House.

Akins High School Classical Guitarists put on a sensational performance, and we were all entranced by the music of Adam Holzman, UT Professor of Guitar and Daniel Ching, First Violinist with the Miro String Quartet. Matthew Hinsley, Executive Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Society, introduced the speakers, who included AISD Fine Arts Director Greg Goodman, and others who are involved with bringing classical guitar into diverse education settings. 

I spoke about access issues in fine arts education, and about how fine arts helps support achievement. In the 2010-11 school year, AISD had 1,773 students enrolled in fine arts classes with three or more years of coursework in the fine arts. These students had a 2.18% higher rate of attendance than the district average for all high school students, with a 99.67% promotion rate during the 2010-11 school year. Our preliminary study shows highly engaged Fine Arts students pass the TAKS in all subjects at a higher rate than the average of all high school students.  

Thanks to Dr. Cigarroa and the University of Texas for hosting a fantastic evening of music. Our students really got to shine!