The Minnesota Guitar Society (MGS) believes in the transformative power of music and advocates for providing all young guitarists with access to exceptional music education. Since 2019, our Guitar In Our Schools (GIOS) program has partnered with public school teachers in Minneapolis and St. Paul, bringing in Teaching Artists to co-teach guitar classes. These artists collaborate closely with educators to enhance their guitar courses and inspire creativity among students.

GIOS is the cornerstone of MGS’s educational outreach. Our mission is to foster exploration, support student growth through music, and cultivate a new generation of passionate guitar enthusiasts.

In the Spring of 2024, a new fund was created to benefit the Guitar in Our Schools program by Jan Fillmore, in honor of her late husband, Jay. Jay and Jan played classical guitar as a duo and were active members of the MGS for many years.

Teaching Artists

Ryan Picone

Ryan Picone is a seasoned performer and guitar instructor with two decades of professional experience. He has graced prestigious stages such as Town Hall in New York, the Dakota Jazz Club in Minnesota, and South by Southwest in Texas. Ryan’s teaching background spans both academic institutions and nonprofit organizations, including the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, Glendale Community College, Arizona State University, the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Guitar Society, Sounds Academy, and Lead Guitar.

Ben Abrahamson

Ben Abrahamson is a vibrant and innovative voice in the world of acoustic guitar. His compositions blend the intricate rhythms of flamenco with the rich harmonic narratives of jazz.

Driven by his passion for flamenco guitar, Ben studied at the Taller de Músics School of Music in Barcelona under the guidance of Juan Ramón Caro. He has composed pieces for the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, the Mac Jazz Big Band, and the Muhlenberg College Theatre and Dance Department. Over the years, Ben has performed alongside influential mentors such as Michael and Tony Hauser, Susana di Palma, La Conja, Chuscales, Billy Steele, Tonia Hughes, Pedro Cortés Jr., Joan Griffith, and Gary Lee Joyner. In 2019, he released his latest album, Neolithic.

Artist Visits

Through the Guitar In Our Schools (GIOS) program, the Minnesota Guitar Society brings renowned performers from our International Artist Series (IAS) into local schools, offering students the opportunity to experience inspiring live performances. Each IAS artist visits a partnering school for a brief performance followed by an informal discussion about classical guitar music. In the fall of 2024, Leonela Alejandro and Meng Su shared their artistry with our partner schools. This spring, Marko Topchii, the Mela Guitar Quartet, and Eva Beneke will perform for students in the GIOS program, exposing the students to music from around the world.