October 1 — Free BONUS! Gustavo Romero Piano Recital

Special BONUS concert offered to all!

3:00 pm — Austin College Campus, Wynne Chapel

In partnership with Austin College and the AC Music Department, superb pianist Gustavo Romero will be coming to play a recital of all Rachmaninov piano music.  Performing in the beautiful Wynne Chapel, Grum sanctuary, Romero will delight and inspire with this exciting repertoire.  What are others saying about him?

“A pianist of genius” – The Washington Post

“Mr. Romero has great agility, adequate power and an unusually large repertory of colors and dynamic levels. More important, these virtues evoked a sense of the music at hand rather than mere piano techniques” – The New York Times

“The playing is authoritative incontrovertibly Beethovenian in re-creating the composer’s style, technically immaculate and compelling in the extreme” – The Los Angeles Times

More about Mr. Romero:

Concert pianist Gustavo Romero is internationally renowned for his exceptional technical brilliance and interpretive depth and has gained an acclaimed reputation for his commitment to in-depth exploration of a wide variety of composers.

A native of San Diego with heritage in Guadalajara, Mexico, Mr. Romero discovered his love and gift for the piano at the age of five and gave his first public performances at the age of 10, when he also won his first piano competition. At 13, he performed with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. Rudolf Serkin recognized his exceptional talent, and at the age of 14 he attended the Juilliard School.

Mr. Romero has won many prizes including first prize in the prestigious Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland, The Avery Fisher Career Grant and The Musical America Young Artist Award.

He has performed with the world’s leading orchestras including: The New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Houston Symphony, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Honolulu Symphony, New World Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, Radio France Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica, New Japan Philharmonic, Shanghai Orchestra, Cape Town Philharmonic, Russian Symphony Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Liège Philharmonic, a concert internationally televised from the United Nations.

For the past 24 years, Mr. Romero has performed a summer series of concerts in La Jolla, California, sponsored by the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library featuring music of one composer each year. He has presented the works of Chopin, Bach, Schumann, Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Händel, Liszt, Debussy, Gershwin, Ravel and Rachmaninoff, the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven and Mozart, the complete four-hand and two-piano works of Mozart and Clementi and piano concerti of Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Mendelssohn conducting from the keyboard.

In the 2022/23 season, Mr.Romero celebrated the 225th anniversary of the birth of Schubert presenting the completed piano sonatas as well as celebrating the 150 anniversary of the birth of Rachmaninoff with all Rachmaninoff programs.

In the 2020/21 season, Mr. Romero focused on presenting the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth from 2020 with recital tours in South Africa and the USA.

In the 2017/18 season Mr. Romero focused on the piano works of Enrique Granados, celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth. Concert tours in 2017/18 included  Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Africa and the United States.

Past seasons have taken him to France, England, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Austria, Bulgaria, Mexico and all across the United States. Mr. Romero has performed in some of the leading concert halls of the world, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Centre, The Barbican in London, The Berlin Philharmonie, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, The Great Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow and Salle Gaveau in Paris.

NPR, BBC Radio and Radio France have featured him. The Snapshots Music and Art Foundation produced a feature film about his life and artistry in 2012: Portrait in Piano.

His recordings include works by Chopin, Mompou, Debussy, Albeniz, Scarlatti and the five Beethoven concerti with the English Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Romero is a Professor of Piano at the University of North Texas.

Summer Music Camp 2023 Recap

Austin College Summer Music Camp 2023 was a huge success! What began in 2022 as a small program has grown tremendously, and we look forward to the future of this program.

Here’s a brief overview of ACSMC 2023:

  • 92 students joined us from the following cities: Sherman, Denison, McKinney, Pottsboro, Howe, Van Alstyne, Trenton, Colbert, Anna, Bonham, Savoy, Bells, Gordonville, Melissa, Whitesboro, Leonard, Pilot Point
  • ACSMC 2023 was open to middle and high school strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and voice (2022: strings, brass, woodwinds only)
  • For comparison, 40 students attended in our first year, 2022. 18 of those students returned as campers in 2023, and two former campers returned as members of the staff.
  • 14 faculty joined us from Austin College, Sherman Symphony Orchestra, and the following school districts: Sherman, Denison, Denton, McKinney, Plano, Prosper
  • All 2022 faculty returned in 2023, and we added faculty from McKinney, Sherman, and Austin College to create opportunities for percussion and voice students.
  • Our staff of 8 people consisted of current AC students and former ACSMC campers
  • Each student participated in a chamber group (~4-6 musicians) as well as a larger ensemble.
  • All students took two electives each day, choosing from the following: Music Theory, Music History, Conducting, Jazz Improvisation
  • Camp faculty and guest artists provided daily performances and topical presentations for the students
  • The camp recital on June 16 filled Wynne Chapel - standing room only! 20 student chamber groups and 7 large ensembles shared their work. All students demonstrated their ability to learn and perform brand-new music in five days.

KXII news piece, June 12, 2023

Stay tuned for information about ACSMC 2024!

 

SSOA hires first ever full-time Executive Director!

The SSOA announces new full-time Executive Director, Aaron Bucy

The Sherman Symphony Orchestra Association (SSOA) has hired its first-ever full-time Executive Director!  "This is a big step in the natural evolution of our organization," says Music Director Daniel Dominick.  "Having an Executive Director positions us to lead in a time for historic growth in Sherman and north Texas.  We are excited to welcome Aaron Bucy to the SSOA and look for great things to come with his leadership and experience."

The Sherman Symphony Orchestra Association (SSOA) is a local non-profit Board of Directors that oversees the operations of the 58-year-old Sherman Symphony Orchestra (SSO), including educational programs and artistic programs. The organization oversees production of 7 – 9 symphony concerts each season and educational programs that serve more than 3000 area students. Sherman and all of North Texas are growing at a fantastic rate and the SSOA is matching that growth.

Mr. Bucy arrives just in time to begin running the 2023 - 2024 concert season ticket sales, season brochure mailing, and many other details that the start of the season entails.  "It's a busy time, but we are excited to have new leadership and new ideas," says Music Director Dominick.

Spring Concert Spotlight: Youth Choirs Join SSO for ‘Carmen’

Education is the foundation of our mission, and we are happy to include area youth choirs in our spring concert! Three student ensembles will participate in the April 29th performance.

Children’s Chorus of Greater North Texas

Led by Heidi Scheibmeir, the Children’s Chorus and Grads’ Chorus provide choral performance opportunities for vocalists from third grade through college.

Sherman High School Varsity Mixed Choir

The Sherman High School Varsity Mixed Choir is the most advanced vocal ensemble at SHS. A former Bearcat herself, Heidi Scheibmeir began leading the SHS choirs in 2022.

Austin College A Cappella Choir

The Austin College A Cappella Choir was founded in 1946, fifty years after the first vocal ensembles at Austin College. It was modeled after the collegiate glee clubs made popular in the U.S. in the 20’s and 30‘s and still draws its inspiration from choirs like those at St. Olaf and Westminster Choir College. The A Cappella Choir is also the primary touring ensemble of Austin College, having appeared throughout the U.S. and in most of the countries of Europe. The Choir is an auditioned ensemble made up of students studying in all fields, with the majority planning careers in medicine, law, education, and business. Former Choir members are also professional performers, conductors, and music educators. Dr. Wayne Crannell has led the ensemble for the past 28 years. 

21st Annual Children’s Educational Concerts

On November 3, nearly 2400 5th graders from across the region attended the 21st annual Children’s Educational Concerts at Kidd-Key Auditorium. With students from 29 different schools, the audiences for these concerts were the largest the SSO has ever seen. This year’s program included a new element – a sing-along – that required students and teachers to learn a chorus part in advance. These interactive and informative concerts are offered free of charge each year so that students can learn more about the orchestra, and see and hear instruments that they will soon have an opportunity to learn to play themselves. This year’s concerts were sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and First United Bank.

To see more about this year’s program, check out KXII and the Herald Democrat’s excellent coverage of these concerts:

Sherman fifth graders attend educational concerts

https://www.kxii.com/2022/11/03/sherman-symphony-orchestra-performs-2400-texoma-students/

Photography: Todd Kleiboer, Sherman ISD

For more information about the Children’s Educational Concerts, click here:

Children’s Educational Concert

2021-2022 Season

October 23, 2021

J.S. Bach, Piano Concerto No. 4 in A Major
          Scott Watkins, piano
William Grant Still, “Out of the Silence” (from Seven Traceries)
Frederick Delius
          Two Aquarelles
          Air and Dance
Mozart, Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201

December 4 & 5, 2021

Do You Hear What I Hear, Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne arr. by Robert Lowden
Bizet, L’Arlésienne, Suite No. 1
          1. Ouverture
          2. Minuette
          3. Carillon
Tchaikovsky, Danse de la Fee-Dragée from The Nutcracker
Bizet, L’Arlésienne, Suite No. 2
          1. Farandole
Special Reading of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
          Laura Dominick, narrator
The Christmas Song, Mel Torme and Robert Wells arr. by Lowden
Pat-A-Pan, Hershey Kay
Emperor Waltz, op. 437, Johann Strauss, Jr.
Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson
Sing-Along, arr. by Dan Goeller

February 26, 2022

William Grant Still, Symphony No. 2 in G Minor (“Song of a New Race”)
Howard Hanson, Symphony No. 2, Op. 30 (“Romantic”)

April 30, 2022

Chadwick, Melpomene
A Remembrance of Maestro Cecil Isaac, founding conductor of the SSO
Elgar, “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations
Dvořák, Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 (“From the New World”)

2019-2020 Season

October 19, 2019

Warren, Intermezzo from The Legend of King Arthur
Dvorák, Scherzo Capriccioso, op. 66
Rachmaninov, Symphonic Dances

December 7 & 8 2019

Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake, Suite from the Ballet, op.20a
          No. 1 Scene
          No. 2 Waltz
          No. 3 Dance of the Swans
          No. 4 Scene
          No. 5 Hungarian Dance (Csardas)
          No. 6 Finale from Act IV
One Week, a film by Buster Keaton (1920)
The Wexford Carol arr. Dan Goeller
Im Krapfenwaldl, op.366 — Johann Strauss
          Travis Lyons, soloist
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers Leon Jessel, arr. Morton Gould
Coventry Carol arr. Goeller
Sandpaper Ballet, Leroy Anderson
Fantasia on “Greensleeves”, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Sleigh Ride, Anderson
Christmas Sing-Along arr. Goeller

February 29, 2020

C.M. von Weber, Overture from Der Freischütz
Barber, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
          Molly Fillmore, soprano
Villa-Lobos, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
          Ária
          Dança
                    Ms. Fillmore
Copland, Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes
          Buckaroo Holiday
          Corral Nocturne
          Saturday Night Waltz
          Hoe-Down

 

2018-2019 Season

October 13, 2018

Dvorak, Symphony No. 8
Rimsky-Korakov, Capriccio espagnol
Delius, Walk to the Paradise Garden

December 1 and 2, 2018 (Sherman) | December 6, 2018 (Greenville) | December 7, 2018 (Ardmore)

Movie and TV Themes
          Batman
          Star Trek
          Star Wars
          Gone With the Wind
          James Bond
          Pink Panther
          How to Train Your Dragon
          Incredibles

March 2, 2019

Beethoven, Symphony No. 8
Brahms, Tragic Overture
Mussorgsky/R-Korsakov, Night on Bald Mountain
Sibelius, Finlandia

April 27, 2019

Don Giovanni
           Overture
          “Il mio tesoro intanto”
          Finale, Act II
Marriage of Figaro
          “Gioani liete”
          “Hai gia vinta causa”
          “Che soave zeffiretto”
          “Ricevete, o padroncina”
          Finale, Act IV
Magic Flute
          “O Isis und Osiris, schenket der Weisheit Geist”
          “Seid uns zum zweiten Mal willkommen”
          “O Isis und Osiris, welche Wonne!”
          Finale, Act II
Ave verum corpus
          Sylvia Rivers, soprano
          Robin Tercero Montgomery, soprano
          Julie Crannell, soprano
          Hannah Barry, mezzo
          Emily Campbell, mezzo
          Toni Richardson, soprano
          Wayne Crannell, tenor
          Robert Cardwell, bass
          Roberto Mancusi, bass
          Jeremy Blackwood, baritone
          Zachary Magers, baritone
          Austin College Choirs
                    Wayne Crannell, director

 

2017-2018 Season

October 7, 2017

Brahms, Symphony No. 2 D Major
Ravel, Bolero
Saint-Saens, Danse macabre
          Elisabeth Atkins, violin

November 2, 2017

2017 Annual Children’s Concert

December 2 and 3, 2017

Christmas Pops
Grieg, Symphonic Dances
Dum spiro, film and film score accompaniment

March 3, 2018

Stravinsky, Firebird (1919)
Britten, Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings
          Wayne, Crannell, tenor
          William Scharnberg, horn
Mozart, Overture from Magic Flute
Mozart, March of the Priests from Magic Flute
Sousa, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

April 28, 2018

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5
Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man
Tower, Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman
Vaughan-Williams, Prelude to the movie 49th Parallel

2016-2017 Season

October 22, 2016

Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2
          Evan Mitchell, piano

November 3, 2016

Annual Children’s Concert

December 3 and 4, 2016

The Sherman Symphony’s Christmas Pops
Grieg, Peer Gynt Suites 1 and 2
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

February 25, 2017

Wagner, Seigfried’s Rhine Journey
Rachmaninov, Isle of the Dead

April 28, 2017

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
          Nereida Garcia, soprano
          Molly Fillmore, mezzo-soprano
          Wayne Crannell, tenor
          Roberto Mancusi, bass
          Austin College Choirs
          Austin College Alumni Choir
                    Wayne Crannell, director
          The Symphonic Chorus of SOSU
                    Joshua Nannestad, director
          The North Texas Concert Chorale
                   Sam Patty, director