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First Annual Austin College Summer Music Camp

First Annual Austin College Summer Music Camp

Operated by the Sherman Symphony and hosted by Austin College, the first annual Austin College Summer Music Camp took place June 13-17, 2022. Staffed by area educators, Sherman Symphony musicians, and Austin College faculty, this non-residential program gave 40 students the opportunity to learn and perform chamber and large ensemble music over the course of five days. Sherman ISD was well-represented throughout the student body and the faculty. Many happy campers expressed their eagerness to return in 2023!

We are grateful to our sponsors for supporting this new endeavor:

Saied Music
Dallas Strings
Music & Arts

Austin College Summer Music Camp

 

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Maestro Dominick - 30 years with the SSO

Maestro Dominick – 30 years with the SSO

Maestro Dominick recognized for 30 years of service

At the closing reception of our April 30, 2022 performance, Daniel Dominick was recognized for his 30 years of service as Music Director and Conductor of the Sherman Symphony Orchestra. The Sherman Symphony Orchestra Association Board of Directors framed the programs from the 2021-2022 concert season. Pictured here is Maestro Dominick (l) receiving this gift from SSOA President Mark Nagel (r).

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Watch our next TV broadcast on Sunday, November 12 at 7:30am on KXII-CBS Channel 12!

Watch our next TV broadcast on Sunday, November 12 at 7:30am on KXII-CBS Channel 12!

We present a new broadcast each month, so check back regularly to find out when.  These programs feature works from recent concerts and from past seasons.  Also, be sure to check out our YouTube channel for older previous broadcasts.

See a previous broadcast on our YouTube Channel:


A Free Concert Broadcast on KXII Every Month

KXII broadcasts excerpts from our live concerts monthly, usually on KXII-CBS12 and sometimes on KXII-Fox. Watch this space or our Facebook page to find out the date and time of the next broadcast.

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2023 Children’s Educational Concerts

2023 Children’s Educational Concerts

2,300 people were in attendance at our 22nd annual Children’s Educational Concerts on Thursday, November 2nd. Fifth-graders from more than 25 area schools filled the hall and listened to music ranging from familiar film scores to classical standards. The concert included an opportunity for a few students to try their hand at conducting, and all students participated in a fun sing-along. To learn more and to find out how to participate, please contact us.

This program was made possible with support from Texoma Physicians Group. 

 

Photography courtesy of Sherman Independent School District

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Summer Music Camp 2023 Recap

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!

 

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SSOA hires first ever full-time Executive Director!

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.

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

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. 

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Local Leaders Join SSOA Board

Local Leaders Join SSOA Board

The SSOA has named 6 new local leaders as our newest members of the SSOA Advisory Council:

As part of the SSOA’s Advisory Council, these leaders will help the Council to identify community needs and suggest new ways that the SSOA can serve our region.  Please help us welcome and thank them for their service!

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21st Annual Children’s Educational Concerts

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

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SSO Featured in County Line Magazine

SSO Featured in County Line Magazine

Last month, the Sherman Symphony Orchestra was featured in a County Line Magazine article, “Symphonies Enrich Lives Across the Region,” by Lisa Tang. Read more about the SSO here.