Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Comer.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a native Houstonian and began studying the classical/Spanish guitar at age nine. Upon entrance into fourth grade, my school provided three choices in music electives: harp, African drums, or classical guitar. Intuitively, I chose the guitar as it was most familiar to me, having been inspired by my older brother who played acoustic guitar. Although he didn’t play classical, I didn’t know the difference at that time.
Throughout high school and college, I participated in guitar festivals and competitions around the U.S. I performed in master classes for distinguished guitarists from around the world, including Kazuhito Yamashita, Pepe Romero, the Assad Brothers, David Russell, Christopher Parkening, Eliot Fisk, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. I was a top prizewinner in numerous competitions, including the University of Colorado’s International Guitar Festival & Competition, and the esteemed Guitar Foundation of America’s International Youth Competition. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Music Performance, in May 2015 from the University of Texas at Austin, under the tutelage of world-renowned American guitarist Adam Holzman.
As a former member of the University of Texas Guitar Quartet, we were first place prizewinners at the Texas Hill Country International Guitar Ensemble Festival & Competition, and the Brownsville Ensemble Guitar Festival & Competition. Notable performances of the UT Guitar Quartet included Music Among Friends concert series at the historic Moody Mansion in Galveston, Texas, the Civil Rights Summit hosted by the LBJ Presidential Library on the University of Texas Austin campus, and Austin Classical Guitar’s Salon Concert series and Cactus Café series. We received the University of Texas’ Board of Regents’ Outstanding Student Award in Arts and Humanities for demonstrating musical excellence and commitment to the arts.
I have performed for a wide range of audiences in and around Texas, including a performance in the presence of two former U.S. Presidents. I have been featured on KUHF’s “Front Row” promoting Guitar Houston and their performances at Jones Hall for the Houston Symphony’s Free Day of Music event showcasing Houston’s diverse musical landscape. I have also been a featured guest artist and teacher at the Summer Guitar Conservatory, a project of Guitar Initiative, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity organization dedicated to providing free guitar education opportunities for students throughout the greater Houston region. In 2016, I was chosen as one of DaCamera’s “Young Artists” for the 2016-2018 seasons. The DaCamera Young Artist Program is a “fellowship program for emerging professional instrumentalists, singers and composers.” As Young Artists, we perform at venues such as the Wortham Center; The Menil Collection; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and area hospitals.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Struggles along the way are included in “What sets you apart from others?”
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kyle Comer, Classical/Spanish Guitarist – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I teach guitar, perform at special events, and participate in outreach programs in and around Houston to help serve the community in collaboration with different organizations, including the Guitar Initiative and Guitar Houston, among others. During the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I worked with Guitar Initiative by teaching at a camp for kids whose families were adversely affected by the flood. This was a personal way that I could utilize my trade to help others in need. Of recent importance to me is my ongoing project as part of my Young Artist fellowship program with DaCamera. Recognizing Houston’s innate diversity, I have been presenting a series of concert talks to celebrate various heritage months in partnership with local libraries. That series includes Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. My goal is to help families feel more accepted and connected to this diverse city by celebrating the familiar music of their homeland.
My education was invaluable to me from my degree in music performance at the University of Texas to my masters in accounting degree at Rice University. Both degrees are significant and a major steppingstone for the future; however, I have always believed it is crucial to have balance in life and be well-rounded. Unaware of it at age nine, classical guitar initiated those character traits in me even prior to college. I continued in that direction throughout college and still to this day by involving myself in various activities which include serving others through my music in community outreach projects.
My unique background originates from childhood, as I triumphed over selective mutism, an anxiety disorder in which a child who can speak well stops talking. I experienced that debilitating disorder for a number of years from age three while undergoing attempts at overcoming it through medications, counseling and art therapy. It wasn’t until fourth grade when I was enrolled in classical guitar lessons that I found my niche. Coupled with my immediate love for guitar and being blessed with a fairly instantaneous talent, guitar was ultimately pivotal in my recovery. Playing music became my voice and gave me the self-confidence and desire to perform in public.
During the ensuing years, I competed and performed in an array of competitions and venues. The outcome of my first competition with the Houston Young Artists at age twelve produced a performance at Rice University’s Stude Concert Hall. I continued to compete and performed every two years with the Houston Young Artists until my final performance at age seventeen. The “mission of the Houston Young Artists’ Concert (HYAC) is to showcase highly talented young classical musicians age 4 to 18 in a variety of venues throughout the city with the hope of fostering a greater appreciation for classical music in the Houston area” while being showcased at such community outreach organizations as the Miller Outdoor Theater, Shriner Hospitals for Children, DePelchin Children’s Center, and The Forum retirement center. The Houston Young Artists launched my love and dedication to outreach programs that brought music to everyone that wouldn’t normally experience it.
I have traveled throughout the United States to compete at guitar festivals against guitarists from around the world. Competitions are highly stressful. Having performed in finals at competitions, it can be the most gratifying, yet terrifying, experience anyone can endure. A significant amount of practice hours and diligence goes into preparation for those competitions. They have helped shape me to be very deliberate and detailed. Everything has to be just right; therefore, I attempt to be unmatched in my diligence and precision of detail. Moreover, being creative, conscientious, and a strategic thinker allows me to also see the big picture. Those performances have not only made me a better musician, they have formed my character.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I will continue to pursue my music, while maintaining a philanthropic approach.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 832/496-1166
- Email: kylecomer0330@hotmail.com
- Facebook: @KyleComerGuitar
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ebacwwIyAGn35X-vD4rjw
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