Minnesota Varsity 2019: Send in your submissions now
Austin Wahl, Guitar, 2011 Showcase Artist
Age: 25
Hometown: Minneapolis
Attending: Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York
How has your life changed since you performed in Minnesota Varsity? I have completed bachelor's and master's degrees in classical guitar performance at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, with Dr. Nicholas Goluses, where I am currently in my second year of a doctoral program.
I have traveled to numerous guitar festivals and competitions, and really gotten a feel for the character of the community around the instrument. I thought it was much more formal and rarefied, when in fact most of even the highest caliber performers are highly approachable and personable. This was surprising and welcome, as I have personally met and studied with some of the most famous and well-regarded guitarists.
Career goals? I anticipate being a professor at a college or university, while recording and touring as much as possible. I heartily enjoy performing as well as teaching, in styles including classical, bluegrass, and rock, and hope to blend them in both performance and pedagogy.
How did Minnesota Varsity affect or influence you? It opened my eyes to the number and diversity of people my age who want the same kind of career as I do, and helped me to feel that there is a larger community of classical musicians than I expected.
What is your best memory of the Minnesota Varsity experience? It would be difficult to pick just one, but I really enjoyed recording in the MPR studios and getting to pick the best parts for the promotional video.
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