UT announces new projects under music initiative

• The campus will host its second songwriter-in-residence, revitalize the Cactus Cafe, launch the Longhorn Piano Project and create new music-focused events.

What they're saying: "Live music is synonymous with Austin, as is UT. Longhorn Live will merge Austin's vibrant music scene with the budding talent on campus and elevate the programming for our communities," university president Jay Hartzell said.

Zoom in: This fall, UT will bring in Austinite Carrie Rodriguez as its second-ever resident songwriter. The school's inaugural songwriter-in-residence, Darden Smith, will also return to campus to offer workshops and live performances.

• Rodriguez — a composer, violinist and bilingual singer-songwriter — will lead workshops for students and premiere an original collaboration commissioned and produced by Texas Performing Arts.
• The show, "Postcards From the Border," will be based on words and images from novelist and faculty member Oscar Cásares and photographer Joel Salcido.
• Featuring Rodriguez and her band, the show will be narrated by Cásares alongside Salcido's images.

The new projects also include a resource from the Moody Center to help students secure discounted tickets to select shows.

• Plus, UT will unveil a new project in which more than a dozen concert pianos from the Butler School of Music will be decorated and placed across campus for students, faculty and staff to play at any time.

What's next: Tickets are now available for Rodriguez's show, which runs Jan. 24-25 at Texas Performing Arts' McCullough Theatre.