We were lucky to catch up with James Martin recently and have shared our conversation below.

James, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In terms of the arts, my efforts to establish Arts Alliance of Central Texas (AAoCT) in February 2018 and the Dripping Springs Youth Orchestra (DSYO) in the Summer of 2019 has brought me great joy. In the Fall of 2018, community members gathered to discuss the establishment of a youth orchestra program in Dripping Springs. At the time there was no orchestra program in the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD). In Spring 2019 discussions where held with Hill Country Youth Orchestras (HCYO) of Kerrville to pursue the establishment of a satellite program in Dripping Springs. HCYO was well established and recognized for it excellence in music education. The HCYO Board of Directors decided against that outcome. AAoCT then proceeded to establish DSYO in the Summer of 2019. Auditions for an orchestra were conducted in early summer and a two week summer intensive for beginning string players was held in August. DSYO rehearsals commenced in September of 2019 and DSYO has continued with Fall and Spring Semester programs, each semester ending with a concert. DSYO has provided the opportunity to perform in an outstanding orchestra to children from public, private, and home school environments. The experience of watching children grow in confidence and musical ability as members of DSYO gives me great joy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I retired from Headquarters USAF in 1994. Following retirement from the USAF, I spent over twenty years consulting and managing consulting organizations in the commercial business sector and at senior executive levels of US government. I retired from both government and civilian industry executive-level consulting in August, 2015. I served on the Dripping Springs Planning and Zoning Commission from 2013 to 2022, where I served as the Vice Chair from 2015 to 2022. I hold an MBA with a concentration in management and finance.

After my wife and I moved to Dripping Springs in the summer of 2011, we were surprised at the lack of community support for the arts. Following meetings with community members, a decision was made to form a non-profit to support the arts. Through involvement in the community, several areas that needed support were identified, in particular the lack of an orchestra in Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD). The creation of an orchestra for Dripping Springs children was an early focus of AAoCT.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society can support the arts by attending artistic events that have an attendance fee or request a donation; purchase art, sculpture, and music; and donate to non-profits that support the arts. For me artistic events include all forms of dance, theater, art shows, and musical performances.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Making performing arts available to all members of society has been a personal mission since the founding of AAoCT.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artsallianceofcentraltexas.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaoct/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSYOUTHORCHESTRA/
• Other: AAoCT Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/artsallianceofcentraltexas/

Image Credits

Jeff, Deeper Still Photography, 860-919-8870 for several of the photos.