Classical Guitar
McCallum Fine Arts Academy offers a music major in Classical Guitar Studies. Besides taking four years of guitar class, students are also required to take one year of piano and a year of Music Theory. The Austin Classical Guitar Society and the McCallum Fine Arts Academy have had a mutually beneficial partnership since the Fall of 2000. Facilitated by Professor Adam Holzman of U.T., our program is enhanced by frequent concerts on our campus by world-famous classical guitarists; private lessons available at school given by students of Professor Holzman; and the opportunity for our guitarists to play in chamber ensembles directed by outside coaches.
Meet Our Faculty
Andrew Clark moved to Austin from Canada to join the Fine Arts Academy music faculty. Mr. Clark began musical studies at the age of 5 and guitar at the age of 13. A Royal Conservatory of Music Silver Medallist, he attended The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance. That same year, he was selected for a full 2 year scholarship to continue his guitar studies at L’Escuela Nacional de la Musica in Havana, Cuba. Mr. Clark has attended and performed in classical guitar symposiums such as Le Domaine Forget in Quebec, the Iserlohn Guitar Festival in Germany, and the Mediterranean Guitar Festival in Italy. An avid pedagogue as well as performer, Andrew Clark attended Columbus State University in Georgia, where he graduated with a Masters Degree in Music Education with a concentration in guitar pedagogy.
Accolades
The Chamber Ensemble is three time consecutive national champions at the University of Texas, Brownsville Classical Guitar Ensemble Competition.
The Chamber Ensemble has been featured at Austin Classical Guitar Society concert events, most recently in October 2009 for a guest artist from Japan.
The Chamber Ensemble has also been featured at the Guitar Foundation of America Festival/Competition showcase.
Students in the classical guitar program have won Texas Outstanding Musician Awards, numerous UIL "1 ratings", national solo competition awards, and scholarships to post-secondary art programs.
Curriculum
The curriculum follows The Austin Classical Guitar Society's online guitar curriculum, a sequentially developed, nine-level curriculum designed both for a classroom of students who are all at the same level (i.e. most beginning classes) as well as varying levels represented.
Classes consist of rehearsing repertoire in three/four parts while developing technical, music reading, and expressive skills. Selected repertoire consists of a historical survey of music arranged and composed for the classical guitar ranging from the Renaissance era to contemporary works by Austin composers. Every student is required to participate in winter and spring performances.