ACC Music Instructor Serves as Clinician for TMEA
Alvin Community College Music instructor John Calderon got a chance to reach a wider audience to showcase how they can improve their skills strumming the guitar.
Calderon recently performed as the guitar clinician with the Lamar University Jazz Orchestra during the recent Texas Music Educators Association annual convention in San Antonio.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be invited to play with the orchestra,” Calderon said. “I was thrilled to be a part of such a prestigious occasion.”
Lamar was selected by TMEA to perform at the annual convention and the university Calderon to perform with the ensemble.
Calderon has been teaching guitar with ACC since 2005 in addition to performing as a professional musician. He has performed on tour with Grammy-winning vocalist All Jarreau. He has also shared the stage with musicians Regina Belle and Bobby Lyle.
“Teaching is a passion and I enjoy investing in the variety of students that come to study at ACC,” he said.
One of his students, Will Herrington, was the only guitarist chosen in 2024 for the TMEA All State Band.
“I'm very proud that William was selected to be in the All State Jazz Ensemble,” Calderon said. “William put forth all the necessary hard work to be successful and his contribution to the concert at the convention was very much in keeping with the talent level of that ensemble. He represented ACC well.”
Performing for audiences such as those at the TMEA convention is a great opportunity for musicians such as him and more importantly for the students.
“TMEA provides a rich environment in which students can thrive,” Calderon said. “With constant training clinics and stellar performances by the best ensembles Texas music education has to offer, a student is easily inspired to excel. Furthermore, a large amount of college recruiting is also present at TMEA, providing achievable goals for young aspiring music students.”
For more information about the music program at ACC, visit www.alvincollege.edu/Music.