While in Austin for the SXSW music festival last month, I took a break from the festival's famous rock and roll extravaganza to meet up with Dr. Matthew Hinsley, the Executive Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Society (ACGS).  I learned about Matt from Jason Vieaux, who in addition to his extensive performance career also teaches classical guitar lessons online here at ArtistWorks.  Jason explained to me that under Matt's leadership the ACGS has become the largest guitar society in the United States, and is now one of the largest guitar societies in the world. 

I met up with Matt just outside of Austin's SXSW festival area for breakfast and a chat, and here are a few things you need to know about him.  Matt is master guitar teacher and educator, virtuoso performer, and an energetic popularizer of the classical guitar as a concert instrument. He has devoted his entire adult life to the classical guitar, and it was clear to me after only a few minutes with Matt that he is probably one of world's greatest evangelists of the instrument.  Under Matt's leadership, the ACGS has become the epicenter of a major resurgence in interest in the classical guitar.