Wilder Frets

Wilder Frets: Classical Guitar in the Wilderness

Where Nature Sings with Nylon Strings.

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Mission

Founded in 2025 by Oregonian classical guitar virtuoso and Artistic Director, Tye Austin, M.M., Wilder Frets: Classical Guitar in the Wilderness is a fiscally sponsored concert series of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) arts non-profit, that is reimagining the traditional concert experience by bringing elite classical guitar performances and masterclasses into some of the most breathtaking natural settings of the Pacific Northwest. Our mission is to create a living dialogue between music, community, and the environment — one that nourishes both the wildness of the human spirit and our collective responsibility to preserve the wilderness landscapes that inspire us.

By uniting artistry and ecology, Wilder Frets transforms the traditional boundaries of music performance. We offer listeners the chance to experience classical music not within the walls of a concert hall, but under open skies, surrounded by forests, rivers, and fresh mountain air. Through these immersive concerts, we cultivate a profound sense of belonging — to sound, to one another, and to the earth itself.

However, our mission extends beyond performance. Wilder Frets is also a catalyst for education and accessibility. We offer free music instruction for underserved youth, mentorship opportunities for emerging artists, and cross-disciplinary programs that explore how music and nature can heal, inspire, and sustain vibrant communities. Every note played, every workshop taught, and every partnership forged is guided by one core belief: that art and nature are not luxuries, but essential pathways to connection and renewal for all of humanity.

Vision

Our vision is to transform the Pacific Northwest into an open-air concert stage — a landscape where music and wilderness coexist in harmony. We imagine a future where every listener can experience the transcendent beauty of classical guitar in the very settings that have inspired composers and poets for centuries: moss-draped forests, sunlit meadows, rocky coastlines, river gorges and mountain amphitheaters carved by wind and water.

In this vision, the act of listening becomes an act of stewardship. As audiences gather among ancient trees or along riverbanks, they are invited to hear not only the music of the guitar, but the natural music of the place itself — birdsongs, wind, and water merge to provide a kind of elemental orchestral accompaniment. The result is an experience that is both deeply intimate and profoundly expansive: a reminder that human creativity is inseparable from the rhythms of the natural world.

Wilder Frets also envisions a world where the barriers that separate people from art — cost, geography, privilege — are dissolved. Through partnerships with schools, community centers, tribal organizations, and outdoor conservancies, we bring free concerts and masterclasses to communities that have limited access to classical music. By doing so, we create new opportunities for expression, growth, and cultural exchange — ensuring that the next generation of musicians and listeners reflects the full diversity of our shared landscape.

Ultimately, our vision is one of harmony — between artist and audience, between culture and nature, between urban and wilderness areas.

Programs

Wilder Frets encompasses three core program areas, each designed to connect people with the transformative power of music and nature.

I. Wilderness Concert Series

The Wilderness Concert Series is the heart of Wilder Frets. Each summer and fall, we curate a season of open-air performances by internationally acclaimed classical guitarist and avid outdoorsman, Tye Austin. Programming will occasionally feature celebrity guest artists and rising talents in the classical music world. From Oregon’s misty coastal bluffs to Washington’s Olympic National Park, these concerts offer audiences an experience unlike any other — intimate, un-amplified (or enhanced through discreet wireless sound design), and harmonized with the natural acoustics of the surrounding environment.

Imagine hearing a Bach lute suite echoing softly across an old-growth forest grove, or off the walls of an underground lava cave. Picture Francisco Tarrega’s “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” resonating beside an alpine lake, while audience members float in kayaks nearby a shoreline stage. Envision Tye Austin performing his original composition, “Songs of the Western Meadowlark,” among the state bird’s natural habitat located in the sagebrush covered high deserts of Eastern Oregon. Each concert is carefully designed to honor both the musical repertoire and the local ecology of each site, often incorporating local storytelling, environmental education, or guided meditations led by naturalists and cultural historians.

In partnership with state parks, conservation groups, and outdoor recreation organizations, Wilder Frets also ensures that these events leave no ecological footprint. We adhere to strict “Leave No Trace” principles, utilizing portable staging, solar-powered amplification, and biodegradable materials. By modeling sustainable practices, we demonstrate that world-class art music and environmental responsibility can — and must — coexist. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to various conservation groups each season.

II. Masterclasses and Artist Residencies

The Wilder Frets Masterclass Program brings aspiring musicians into direct contact with some of the world’s leading classical guitarists. These immersive workshops, held in outdoor and retreat-style settings, blend technical instruction with reflection on artistry, creativity, and ecological awareness. Students of all ages and skill levels are invited to sign up for a free masterclass before each concert.

Students learn not only about phrasing, tone, and repertoire, but also about presence — how to listen deeply to one’s surroundings and translate that awareness into musical expression. By practicing and performing amid natural soundscapes, participants develop a new relationship with silence, resonance, and breath — the very elements that define great music-making.

Residencies also invite established artists to collaborate with scientists, poets, and Indigenous knowledge-keepers, exploring how art can illuminate our understanding of a particular landscape. Composers are encouraged to create new works inspired by the ecosystems they encounter, resulting in a growing body of music that celebrates the voices of the wilderness itself.

III. Community Access and Youth Education

Accessibility is at the core of Wilder Frets. We believe that every young person, regardless of background, deserves the chance to experience the joy of classical guitar music and the serenity of nature. Our Free Frets Initiative provides classical guitars, strings, lessons, and mentorship to underserved youth throughout the Pacific Northwest — from rural logging towns to urban schools with limited arts funding.

Through weekly lessons (online or in-person), summer camps, and one-on-one mentorship, students not only learn about classical guitar technique, repertoire, and music business, but also explore the connections between creativity, self-expression, and their natural environment. Guided hikes and “listening walks” encourage them to experience nature as a source of musical inspiration, while performance opportunities in outdoor community concerts help build confidence and self-esteem.

We also partner with local tribes, immigrant and refugee organizations, and after-school programs to ensure that these opportunities reach the widest possible range of participants. For many of our students, Wilder Frets provides their first encounter with both live classical guitar music and wilderness landscapes — an experience that can change a life’s direction.

The Wilder Sound: Innovation and Design

Wilder Frets is not only about where we play, but how we play. Our concerts employ state-of-the-art wireless sound technology that allows audiences to experience pristine acoustic fidelity without intrusive equipment or visual clutter. This innovative design, developed in collaboration with sound engineers and environmental acousticians, ensures that the music feels both immediate and organic — carried naturally by the landscape rather than imposed upon it.

Audiences wear lightweight, open-ear listening devices that deliver studio-quality sound while allowing the ambient sounds of nature to blend seamlessly with the performance. The result is an auditory experience that feels both intimate and expansive — as if the forest itself is providing orchestral accompaniment.

This technology also enables accessibility: it allows for adjustable sound levels for those with hearing sensitivities, and ensures that performances can take place in fragile ecosystems without the need for traditional amplification systems that disturb wildlife. Through such innovations, Wilder Frets merges artistry with environmental ethics, creating a blueprint for sustainable performance design worldwide.

Wilder Media: Audio & Video Production

Beyond the intimate energy of our live performances, we aim to preserve and share the unique magic of these wilderness concerts with audiences world-wide. Each note played among the trees and under open skies will be captured through high-quality live streams, bringing the immersive experience directly to viewers no matter where they are.

In addition, carefully crafted album recordings and cinematic music videos will allow listeners to revisit the serene beauty and raw emotion of these performances again and again. By blending the artistry of the classical guitar with the untamed ambiance of the natural world, we hope to create a musical journey that resonates far beyond the forest, inviting audiences around the globe to experience the classical guitar as they’ve never heard it before.

Prospective Locations for Wilder Frets Tour 2026

Wilder Frets is planning 50 concerts at various wilderness locations in Oregon, California, and Washington State during our inaugural concert season between June-September, 2026. In the future, we intend to expand to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

Some of the prospective locations include Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach, OR, Redwoods National Park in Crescent City, CA, Oregon Caves in Cave Junction, OR, Crater Lake National Park in Chiloquin, OR, Silver Falls State Park in Silverton, OR, Multnomah Falls in Corbett, OR, Smith Rock State Park in Bend, OR, Alvord Desert Hot Springs in New Princeton, OR, Olympic National Park in Olympic Peninsula, WA, and many more.

Project Inspiration

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought live music to a standstill in 2020, our Artistic Director, Tye Austin was moved to reimagine what a concert could be and where it could take place. Instead of waiting for indoor music venues to reopen, he turned to the forests, rivers, and open landscapes of his home state of Oregon—spaces that offered both refuge and a natural stage for artistic expression. He became determined to build a resilient, artist-centered concert series—one that ensures musicians can perform, connect with audiences, and earn a livelihood without being constrained by future government shutdowns or venue limitations.

In exploring the wider history of arts access during times of crisis, Tye learned that the 1919 Spanish flu pandemic, in part, set the stage for the Great Depression and, ultimately, the creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a federal program that supported cultural programs and provided vital economic relief while bringing free public concerts and theatrical performances to communities nationwide—often in outdoor settings that fostered openness, resilience, and collective healing.

Inspired by this legacy, Wilder Frets is committed to advancing equitable access to the arts. We offer free or deeply subsidized concert tickets and masterclass opportunities for individuals from low-income and historically underserved communities, ensuring that everyone—regardless of circumstance—can experience the transformative power of live music.

Impact

The impact of Wilder Frets extends far beyond the music itself. Our work touches lives, communities, and landscapes in deeply interwoven ways.

  • Cultural Renewal: By taking classical music out of the concert hall and into the wilderness, we are redefining what live performances can be — turning it into a communal, multi-sensory, and holistically restorative experience.
  • Environmental Awareness: Our concerts inspire stewardship by fostering emotional connections to the land. Attending a Wilder Frets concert may change how you see and interact with the natural world — motivating you to volunteer, donate to conservation efforts, or simply spend more time outdoors.
  • Education and Equity: Through our free programs, we will provide hundreds of hours of instruction and mentorship each year to students who would otherwise have no access to basic, let alone elite classical music education.
  • Economic and Cultural Development: Our events draw visitors to rural and natural areas, supporting local economies and cultural tourism in sustainable ways.
  • Artistic Innovation: By commissioning new works and creating unique performance formats, Wilder Frets expands the global repertoire for classical guitar while positioning the Pacific Northwest as a leader in the creative environmental arts.

Each concert, masterclass, and collaboration plants a seed — in the soil of the forest, in the heart of a child, in the imagination of a listener. Over time, those seeds grow into something larger than any single performance: a movement that celebrates harmony between the natural world and human spirit.

Get Involved

Wilder Frets thrives through the support of people who believe in the transformative power of the performing arts and nature. There are many ways to join our growing community:

  • Become a Member: Join our Circle of Sustaining Friends with a recurring monthly or annual donation. Members receive early access to concert tickets, behind-the-scenes updates, and invitations to private gatherings and rehearsals.
  • Sponsor a Concert or Student: Direct your support toward a specific performance or fund a youth scholarship for music instruction, instruments, and outdoor learning.
  • Volunteer: Help us set up events, guide guests on trails, or mentor young musicians. Every helping hand brings the music closer to the people who need it most.
  • Corporate Partnerships: We welcome collaborations with environmentally conscious companies and foundations that share our commitment to creativity, sustainability, and community enrichment.
  • Planned Giving: Leave a legacy that resonates for generations by including Wilder Frets in your estate or donor-advised fund.

Each contribution, no matter the size, amplifies our shared vision: a world in which music and nature sustain one another, and where every person has access to the beauty that both provide.

Join the Movement

Wilder Frets is more than a concert series — it’s a movement to reconnect humanity with its natural roots through the universal language of music. Each performance is a reminder that art and culture is not something apart from the world, but a vital expression of it. In every strum of a string, in every breath between notes, we rediscover what it means to belong — to the land, to each other, and to the stories that unite us.

As we look to the future, we invite you to join us in building something enduring: a living bridge between culture and nature, between tradition and innovation, between sound and silence. Together, we can create a legacy of equitable access to the performing arts and music education in stunning natural landscapes that will continue to inspire future generations.

Support Us

Wilder Frets is currently raising $1,000,000 to launch our inaugural concert season between June-October, 2026. Your donation directly supports:

  • Fair compensation for performing artists and music educators.
  • Booking celebrity guest artists to collaborate with our Artistic Director.
  • Commissioning of new works inspired by nature from modern composers.
  • Free masterclasses and continued music education for underserved youth.
  • Environmentally responsible concert production.
  • Portable stage, lights, solar-powered generators, and other production equipment.
  • Wireless headphones, microphones, and other sound gear.
  • Audio/video production crew to document and live-stream concerts.
  • Marketing, advertising, and publicity budget.
  • Social media management team.
  • Ongoing partnerships with conservation and cultural organizations.
  • Tour van and travel expenses.
  • Licenses, permits, insurance, and other operational fees.
  • Our Artistic Director’s Salary.

Giving Levels:

$100 – Equips a young musician with possibility. Provides a student with high-quality guitar strings and essential music books, helping them build skills and confidence.

$500 – Opens the door to artistic mentorship. Sponsors a full masterclass session, pairing emerging musicians with world-class teaching artists.

$1,000 – Brings music directly to the community. Underwrites a free public concert, creating shared cultural experiences for audiences of all ages.

$5,000 – Nurtures the next generation of creators. Funds a new artist residency, supporting dedicated time and space for musicians to develop transformative work.

$10,000+ – Sustains a season of impact. Supports an entire year of community outreach programs, expanding arts access for underserved audiences across the region.

Every dollar you give becomes part of the music — part of the forest, the river, the mountains, the movement.

You can donate securely online through our fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) arts non-profit, by clicking the link below. All contributions made payable to Fractured Atlas for the purposes of Wilder Frets: Classical Guitar in the Wilderness are fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Contact your CPA for more information about contributing to Fractured Atlas’ fiscally sponsored projects. You may also contact our development team at info@tyeaustin.com to discuss sponsorship and partnership opportunities. Together, we can ensure that the sounds of the wilderness — and the voices of the next generation — continue to ring loud and clear.

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Wilder Frets: Classical Guitar in the Wilderness
Where the guitar re-unites with it’s old-growth relatives.

Donate Now!