Student News

Stay up-to-date on our student news! Learn more about Childbloom Guitar Program students advancing and winning various guitar competitions.

Austin High-Schooler Wins International Competition

Aytahn Benavi, a student of Kevin Taylor, recently participated in the Ex Aeque Artist International online competition. Over 145 entries of professional guitarists of all ages participated with video entries. There were 24 semi-finalists and eventually 12 finalists...

Childbloom “Chiara Stella” Guitar Ensemble Takes 1st Prize at Southwest Ensemble Competition in San Antonio

The Chiara Stella Guitar Ensemble, directed by Adam Carney received 1st prize at the Southwest Guitar Symposium competition, March 14-17. The members are: Aaron Lester, Rishab Rao Pejaver, Nathan Bledsoe, Nate Sullivan, Matt Sullivan, Cooper Reid, Oslo Groce, Ander...

3 Childbloom Alums Qualify for Prestigious National Competition

3 Childbloom teens reached the semi-finals in the prestigious Stroud Competition in Cleveland. There were 41 applicants and 15 were chosen. Aytahn Benavi (17) is from Austin, Tx.. He is a student of Kevin Taylor. Kassandra Hughes (15) is from St. Charles, Mo. Her...

Local Student Wins Top Honors in International Guitar Competition

Aytahn Benavi, a 17 year old Austin student of Kevin Taylor, recently competed in The Guitar Foundation of America’s International Sr. solo Competition. Aytahn competed against 40 of the best young guitarist in the world. He was awarded 3rd prize, representing the...

Childbloom Teenage Group Wins 1st Place in Hill Country Guitar Ensemble Festival

Austin Bella Corda Guitar Ensemble competed in the recent Hill Country Guitar Ensemble Festival and earned first prize! They competed against high school groups from Austin and Houston. The group performed 4 pieces: a work by contemporary composer, James Chang, an...

Austin Student Wins 1st Prize in International Competition

We just found out that Aytahn Benavi, competed at the “Domain Forget” guitar festival in Quebec, Canada. Although only 16, Aytahn competed in the college division, playing “Caprice 1” by Mario Castlenuevo Tedesco, “Etude 12” by H. Villa Lobos and “Joyful Island” by...

“Austin Bella Corda” Guitar Ensemble Wins International Competition

Austin Bella Corda is an elite performing group of students who started guitar with the Childbloom Guitar Program. Even though all the players are teenagers, many of them started at age 5 and 6. In June they traveled to Fullerton California to compete in the Guitar...

Childbloom Student Wins Major International Awards

In June of 2016, Aytahn Benavi, a 14 year old student of Kevin Taylor, recently was awarded 2nd place at the Guitar Foundation of America’s International youth guitar competition JR. Division. He competed agains dozens of the world’s finest young players. This is the...

Guitar Day in Downtown Round Rock on April 30

On Saturday, April 30, the students and teachers of the Childbloom Guitar Program will be in downtown Round Rock for ”Childbloom Guitar Day.” At 11 am pedestrians may walk by one of our volunteer ”Sound Oasis” teams, students playing near the Plaza and on the street...

Childbloom Student Takes National Competition Honors

A 14 year old student of Kevin Taylor, Aytahn Benavi, just was awarded 1st prize in two national youth competitions. He traveled to Columbus, Georgia and performed in the youth competition, at the Columbus Guitar Symposium. He also competed in the University of Dallas...

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Childbloom Student Awards since 2010

Austin/Round Rock Childbloom students have been winning guitar competition awards every year since the very first Childbloom students discovered them in 2007! We won’t list them all because the list might break the internet. These are some of the awards that Austin/Round Rock students have earned since 2010.

2019

1st Prize Boston Guitar Fest Academy (University) division.
3rd Prize – Guitar Foundation of America’s International Sr. Solo competition in Miami, Fl.
1st Prize Hill Country Guitar Ensemble Competition (large group-high school division.)
3rd Prize Georgia Guitar Competition (professional division) – Columbus Georgia
1st Prize Florida State Guitar Festival Competition professional division.

2018

1st Prize COLLEGE DIVISION (!) at the Domain Forget Guitar Festival competition, Quebec, Canada.
4th Prize Boston Guitar Competition (18-21 division).
Highest scores in Texas UIL competitions.

2017

1st place at the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Youth Ensemble Competition.

2016

1st Prize – Indiana University High School Guitar competition.
1st Prize – Texas A&M Guitar Symposium high school competition.
3rd prize – Classical Minds adult competition – Houston, TX.
2nd prize – Guitar Foundation of America International Jr. Youth Competition

2015

1st Prize – Domain Forget Youth Competition – Quebec, Canada

2014

1st Prize – Texas A & M Jr. Competition
1st Prize – U. of Dallas Jr. Youth competition
1st prize – U. of Houston’s “Classical Minds” Jr. Competition
2nd prize U. of Houston’s ”Classical Minds” Sr. Competitiom
3rd Prize Mid-America Jr. Youth competition
3rd Prize Mid-America Sr. Youth competition
2nd Prize Mid-America Jr. Sr. competition

2013

1st Prize – Webster University Sr. Youth Competition
2nd prize – U. of Houston’s “Classical Minds” Sr. Competition
2nd Prize – U. of Dallas Jr. Youth competition
3rd Prize – U. of Dallas Sr. Youth competition

2012

Amerian String Teachers” Association youth competition – Honorable mention
2nd prize – Mid-America Sr. Youth Competition

2011

Appearance on the national NPR radio show “From The Top”
Winner of the “Jack Kent Cooke” $10,000 Young Artist Award
Yamaha Young Artist Recognition

2010

1st prize – Mid-America Sr. & Jr. Youth Competition
2nd prize at U. of Houston’s “Classical Minds” Sr. Competition
4th prizeat U. of Houston’s “Classical Minds” Sr. Competition
1st prize Mid-America Sr. Youth competition