05/13/2025
News Article in Argus-Courier about Guitars Not Guns 4/29/25 Graduation Night!
https://www.petaluma360.com/article/entertainment/graduation-petaluma-guitars-not-guns/
The Petaluma Argus-Courier just posted this awesome news article about our graduation night! The text is below and attached, but be sure to click the link to see the rest of the photos! 😀🎸🎶💓
Thanks again to our amazing 10 volunteer guitar instructors, the Sonoma County Library, and Friends of the Petaluma Library for their generous support to make this happen!
-courier
News Article and photos by
David Templeton | Argus-Courier
Additional photos in this post by
Susan King | Cimiliano Gonzalez | Shannon Duarte
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"There’s nothing quite like the sound of a dozen acoustic guitarists all tuning up at the same time. Blending with the wafting aroma of hot pizza waiting on a nearby table, the melodious sounds clearly suggest that a special occasion, one centered around music, is about to take place.
“Hi everyone! It’s graduation day! Is everyone excited?” said Stephan Avanozian, greeting the room full of students at the Petaluma Community Center. “This is a day you’ve all been working for. I hope you are all proud of yourselves, because we are all so proud of you.”
On April 29, nine fledgling musicians between the ages of 7 and 14 officially graduated from the free, eight-week-long guitar course they’ve been taking together since early March. Over those two months, the classes – sponsored in part by the Sonoma County Library – were taught by a team of 10 volunteer guitar instructors belonging to Guitars Not Guns. The international nonprofit organization was founded in 200 by guitar-enthusiast Ray Nelson, who started the program to provide free guitars and lessons to foster kids and and at-risk youth.
Designed to be 100% volunteer-led, there are currently 11 Guitars not Guns chapters across six states. The Sonoma County chapter is led by Avanozian. During the course of the class, students are taught everything from the proper way to hold a guitar to the chords of at least eight songs.
For Petaluma’s first class of 2025, on graduation day, before certificates were presented, the students all joined in one big, group performance of the song “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. At the end of the tune, the students – along with the volunteers, parents and guardians who are in attendance to watch the kids graduate –all burst into a happy round of applause.
“Keep up with what you’ve started, and music will always be a part of your life,” said Avanozian, officially concluding the ceremony “Now, let’s eat some pizza!”
“Guitars Not Guns,” as described on the nonprofit’s website, was created to provide a love of guitar-playing “as a healthy alternative to drugs or gang violence.” Each chapter is unique, but classes are generally held at local libraries, community center, schools, police departments or churches.
Though the organization was founded 25 years ago, the Sonoma County chapter is relatively new, beginning in 2024. Avanozian, who joined the nonprofit as a volunteer guitar instructor in the south bay in 2019, has recruited a team of 10 volunteers to work with the students at the weekly hour-long classes.
The guitars are donated by individuals and groups, so that every students takes one home and keeps it, ensuring that they will be able to practice what they’ve learned, and build on those skills."
David Templeton is the Community and Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Petaluma Argus-Courier. You can reach him at [email protected].
