A Morning Gift: Music, Connection, and New Beginnings

This morning, as the sun gently climbed over Austin, a letter found its way to my inbox —a letter from the Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Society.

It felt like a small blessing tucked into an ordinary day. I’m so excited and honored to be part of this extraordinary ensemble. There’s something magical about doing what you love —how time itself seems to bend and blur.

When we are fully present, when our hearts are alive in what we are creating, the hours slip by unnoticed. We are no longer counting minutes or measuring moments. We are simply being — Music has always been that kind of magic for me. When I am lost in it — whether playing, listening, or sharing it —it feels as if I step outside the ordinary rhythm of life and into something untamed.

In those moments, time is no longer a clock ticking on the wall.

Here is the letter I received — a reminder of why we do what we do, and how deeply music roots us to one another and to ourselves:

Dear Sylvie,

Grisha flew into Austin last night. I got him at the airport. We had a wonderful long conversation about his many trips to Austin over the years, and how wonderful it feels to be together again after such a long break.

We talked a lot about the mystery of music, how it connects us not only to each other but to ourselves, how it casts a kind of spell inside of which time seems to behave differently if we accept its invitation to be truly present.

This morning Grisha will begin his community residency with a trip to see our students at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center. Grisha has visited Gardner Betts before, and he’s excited to meet new young people, and share music together.

Our thirty-third season begins this weekend. Grisha will perform for our First Night benefit concert at the home of Jeff and Gail Kodosky on Friday, and again on Saturday for our Opening Night at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center.

I hope I’ll get to see you there,

Matt Hinsley, Executive DirectorSupport Our Fall Fund Drive To learn more about the ACG, visit their website!

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#SylvieAbate #mindfulness