On this day in 2011, Austin Soundwaves made its first sounds
October 17, 2022
Dear Austin Soundwaves Family,
On this day in 2011, our small but mighty organization was founded on the belief that more opportunities to learn music were needed in our community. Beginning with a single school site and 42 students, Austin Soundwaves programming reaches students of all ages both in school and throughout the larger Austin community.
There are so many meaningful and impactful stories to share from the 2021-22 academic year, but I hope you will allow me to share a select few.
Our school partner programming thrived, making up the bulk of the work we have done since 2011. We served over 700 students through these partnerships, working closely with 14 schools throughout the city of Austin, providing lesson and sectional support, training, and mentoring.
Among our most significant growth areas included our community-based programming, both in scope and size. This was an intentional focus for us as an organization, both to grow offerings for students at our school partner programs and to a lesser degree revisit important tenets as an organization founded in part as an El Sistema-inspired program.
Our third annual Summer Music Camp experienced its largest growth spurt in both scope and size. Led by Austin Soundwaves and partner school staff, Dana Wygmans and Jessica MacNair, we provided a weeklong orchestra workshop for rising 5th-9th grade students from across the city. Like our wonderful camp from last summer, the final concerts took place at the Texas State Capitol Rotunda.
We were thrilled and excited to once again present our Season Finale performance at UT-Austin Bates Recital Hall for the first time since 2019. It was wonderful to perform together again, with representatives from all of our school and community programs, including Mariachi Para Todos, our newest ensemble focused on intergenerational learning.
Finally, our beloved Draylen Mason Fellows Program (DMFP) marked the conclusion of its fourth cohort year, which included a celebration of Draylen’s 21st birthday (delayed one year because of the pandemic). This year’s cohort featured six fellows and two mentors, focusing on issues around gender inequality. We were once again honored to hold the annual DMFP capstone performance in the beautiful Draylen Mason Music Studio at KMFA, where the fellows showcased the work of the year. Among the many highlights of the performance included a rousing rendition of Burn from Hamilton.
So much of our success is attributed to our incredible staff, many of whom are locally trained products of prestigious institutions like the Butler School of Music at UT-Austin. Taking advantage of partnering with such a vibrant and rich arts community has been at the heart of Austin Soundwaves from the beginning. There are too many to list here, but we are grateful for the many arts and education partnerships that help to support our mission as well as affording us the privilege of being involved in theirs.
On behalf of the staff and board of Austin Soundwaves, thank you for your ongoing support of our shared goal of making learning music accessible and equitable.
Sincerely,
Patrick Slevin
Executive Director