Sherman, Texas -- The Sherman Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will present the first performance of its 61st season on Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Kidd-Key Auditorium, 400 N. Elm Street, Sherman, Texas. The concert is $20 for adults and free for students, with tickets available for purchase here.

Founded by Austin College Professor of Music Dr. Cecil Isaac, this ensemble has been led by current AC Music Department Chair and Professor of Music Dan Dominick since 1992. The SSO is a professional, regional orchestra that has additionally served as a training ground for advanced young artists since its founding. Today, the orchestra includes professional musicians from across north Texas, and its players enjoy performing in Sherman for its friendly and receptive local audience.

The Fall Concert’s repertoire will include In Nature’s Realm by Antonin Dvořák and Scheherazade by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov.

“We are adding one new element at this concert: the audience is invited to 'Sketch the Symphony,’” said Executive Director of the SSO and Adjunct Instructor of Applied Music Leslie Whelan. “We are including blank pages in each program book and providing drawing materials, and we are encouraging the audience to enjoy drawing what they see and hear. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own sketchbooks. This is a casual, from-your-seat activity that we hope will augment the experience.”

The 2026-2027 season is sponsored by Bill & Janet Douglass, and the October 17 concert is sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Northeast Texas.

Additional information is available at shermansymphony.org.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, proudly celebrates 150 years in the Texoma region in 2026. Since establishing its home in Sherman in 1876, the College has formed deep and lasting partnerships with the community—collaborations that continue to enrich both campus life and the broader region. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Known for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, and hands-on learning, Austin College is one of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives. Founded in 1849, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under its original name and charter.