Classical guitarist and composer kicks off two months of concert performances at Oregon state parks

Tye Austin is a classical guitarist and composer from Southern Oregon and also the founder and artistic director of Wilder Frets: Classical Guitar in the Wilderness. The two-month-long concert tour that kicked off on Aug. 1 features Austin performing original and traditional classical guitar compositions at 15 state parks and other outdoor locations, from the Central Oregon high desert to the Portland metro area, the Rogue Valley and the rugged Oregon coast. Austin is making tickets available for free or at discounted prices for people facing financial difficulties, and he’s also giving away free classical guitars and music instruction to at-risk youth. He joins us to share how the pandemic inspired this concert series, his vision for its future growth and to perform works audiences can expect to hear.