Ensights Magazine

gibson gives

Contributing to Society, One Guitar at a Time

Doug Magee, Associate Head of High School
Ensworth is fortunate to be in a community whose local history and cultural exports have had a significant global impact. Our students have many educational opportunities focusing on teaching and learning within the context of Nashville.
This approach emphasizes the use of the local environment and community as a teaching tool, with students learning about the history, culture, geography, and other aspects of the place where they live. These learning opportunities involve hands-on, experiential learning activities, such as field trips, community service projects, and other activities that allow students to engage with their local community and environment. Known for its rich musical history, the city of Nashville has become a classroom for our Lower School jazz interdisciplinary experience, the fourth-grade songwriting project, and a host of opportunities in our visual and performing arts programs.
 
Ensworth was fortunate to further our community-based relationships with Gibson Guitars this past summer through the Gibson Gives Foundation. Gibson Brand President Cesar Gueikian, parent of  ‘32, recently shared with students how innovation has been a part of Gibson Guitars since Orville Gibson began making instruments more than 128 years ago. With such novelties as Les Paul, the Flying V, and SG, Gibson has been inspiring musicians and riding along with music in Nashville and beyond since the late 1800s. Gibson is one of the oldest American musical instrument manufacturers, making it a leader in the industry. However, leadership does not end there; Gibson also has been an innovator in the world of giving and community engagement. 
 
In 2019, leadership pulled the company back to the center of what they do through Gibson Gives, deepening the ever-present giving component of the company with music wellness and music education in mind. Their giving spirit infiltrated the culture and helped Gibson Guitars reimagine the company focus. 
Doug Magee and the Gibson brass
Such history and creativity fit the spirit of the Ensworth Arts Program. Whether learning to play the guitar for the first time, sharing the gift of music for members of our local community during a Service Learning day, or performing on the stage during a concert, we wanted students to have access to the local tools which have shaped the history of music. Gibson Gives provided Ensworth students with more than a dozen guitars representing the range of historically significant designs that have shaped modern music’s history. Using Gibson Guitars made here in Nashville, we hope that students develop a sense of responsibility to be contributors to our local history and extend the gifts of Music City to the rest of the world. 
 
Many of our students are passionate about music and are looking to gain experience and exposure in the music industry. While some will go on to become successful professional musicians, others will use their experiences at Ensworth to pursue careers in other fields. The relationship with Gibson has opened up horizons for students to consider careers in music in addition to being professional musicians. 
 
Gueikian’s journey to Gibson resonates with the experience of many Ensworth students. While his story is not necessarily one of chart-topping hits, it mirrors many students’ vision of their future selves. After working in corporate investments for over 20 years, Gueikian transitioned to Gibson. He shared a story with students about his childhood growing up in Argentina, learning how to play guitar on an old Spanish-style guitar in his family. After winning a tennis tournament, he purchased his first electric guitar with the prize money. Although he wanted to buy a Gibson Les Paul, it was too expensive. Gueikian purchased the guitar he could afford, sold it for the price of the Les Paul, returned to the music store, and purchased the Les Paul. 
 
Ensworth is full of students who use their talents to the fullest in the classroom and on the stage. While some students will forge a career as a professional musician, many of our talented artists will choose a college and career pathway similar to Guiekans’. Most will pursue majors in economics, engineering, psychology, or something similar, and also seek to integrate their passion for music in their career choices. We see alumni across the country using their talents to the fullest with skills learned at Ensworth. Our hope is that by deepening connections to our unique local history using tools made in Nashville, we will extend Ensworth’s contributions to Music City’s history.
Gibson Gives Guitars

How it all started

On a warm night in April, standing against the chain-link fence as our first grade little league team took the field, I was running through a number of songs I was slated to play at the rock band concert the following night. One of our main guitarists became ill, and we were scrounging for replacements. Thankfully, Jim Aveni could play most of these songs in his sleep. I, however, was not as confident. The show must go on. 
 
Cesar Gueikian walked up to the fence next to me. His son Leo was over at our house earlier in the week, and I overheard him say, “My dad is is probably way better than your dad at guitar. I mean, your dad is probably good, too, but my dad is just better.” We were in need of guitar players, and while I hear that taking the stage to occasionally play guitar or dance is a crowd favorite, my days of playing in a band are a distant memory. I much prefer setting the stage for our students and cheering them on from the sidelines. Humbled, and not one to miss an opportunity to help others use their talents to the fullest, I asked Cesar if he was busy Friday night.
 
Unfortunately, Cesar let me know he was traveling and would not be able to attend the concert. He then handed me a guitar pic with his name and number on one side and, on the other, Gibson Brand President. My confidence grew slightly knowing 7-year-olds were comparing my guitar playing to a Gibson executive.
 
The next day, I shared the concert video with Cesar, who graciously tuned in for the show. He was very complimentary of our students, the sound and production quality, and our playing. He also let me know that I would have sounded much better if I was playing a Les Paul. This got me thinking. Here we are in Nashville, how might we connect our students to the instruments that have shaped modern music? 
 
- Doug Magee, Associate Head of High School
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Red Gables Campus (K–8)

Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 383-0661

Frist Campus (9–12)

Nashville, TN 37221
(615) 301-5400
Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.