City of Austin Partners with MusicianCorps

Photo by Steve Snodgrass
Photo by Steve Snodgrass


Music Program Director Don Pitts

The Center for Music National Service (MNS) is very proud to announce a partnership with the City of Austin to bring MusicianCorps to Austin, Texas in Fall 2012. By a 7-0 vote, Austin's city council approved a planning grant to welcome MusicianCorps to the "Live Music Capital of the World," recruiting skilled musicians to serve full-time as teachers and mentors with underprivileged youth, veterans, seniors, hospitalized patients, and other high-need members of the Austin community.

The partnership was put in motion by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and a strong group of supporters working within City Hall, including Leffingwell's Chief of Staff, Andy Mormon. "Government work is not always fun but every once in a while you run across something that you just know is going to be a real home run for your city. That's MusicianCorps in Austin," Mormon said. Other key supporters included City Council member Mike Martinez and Don Pitts, the city's Music Program Director. "I'm not sure there's a better fit: MusicianCorps in the live music capital of the world," said Bobby Garza, chief of staff for council member Martinez and himself a local musician.  

MNS is currently undergoing a planning process in partnerships with Austin schools, institutions of higher education, and community organizations to develop and launch a unique MusicianCorps Austin program. 


City Council member Mike Martinez