Community Connections
By Tori Walters
Austin College has called Sherman home for 150 years—and over that time, the relationship between the College and the Texoma community has remained deeply intertwined. One of the hallmarks of an Austin College education is participation in community life, which includes some of Sherman’s most enduring arts institutions, such as the Sherman Community Players (SCP) and Sherman Symphony Orchestra (SSO). The relationships between these institutions and the College have been fostered and sustained by faculty, staff, alumni, and students alike.
The Sherman Community Players have brought quality theatrical productions to audiences across the North Texas and Southern Oklahoma regions since the 1920’s, when it was known as the Sherman Little Theater. Today, the SCP is led by Artistic Director Darrah Dunn ’89. “The first time I was in a show here, I was a student at AC,” he recalled. “I did a children’s theater production—Revenge of the Space Pandas. It was Andy Williams, technical director of the Theatre Department at AC, who got me involved with SCP. As a student, I simply performed for them, but once I graduated, my desire to support SCP went further.” (Andy Williams ’74, long-time technical director of Ida Green Theatre, was the entry point for many students, staff, and faculty who got involved with SCP.)
After working with Sherman Community Players in various roles for 30 years, Dunn became the artistic director in 2022. “SCP is a solid part of the cultural tapestry here, and Sherman has always had fine arts and culture and education as part of its appeal,” he said, also noting SCP’s long-standing presence, having opened its 77th consecutive season under the SCP name in fall 2025. “We aim to represent the entire community,” Dunn continued. “We are a safe space—we invite anyone to come and audition for any and all parts in our productions.”
The College provided the stage in Ida Green for the Sherman Community Players to perform their rendition of Mamma Mia! during the pandemic.
Cecil Isaac (above, center) was the conductor of the Sherman Symphony Orchestra for 26 years before passing the baton to Daniel Dominick in 1992. Dominick is pictured here coaching an aspiring young conductor.
Community support has been vital for SCP— and none have answered the call quite like Austin College. During the pandemic, the College provided the stage in Ida Green for the Sherman Community Players to perform their rendition of Mamma Mia!, ensuring that the arts were uplifted during dark times, allowing for a much-needed moment of levity. In addition to countless Austin College students, over the years familiar faces among faculty and staff have provided hands-on support both behind the scenes and on-stage, including Professor of Political Science Dr. Nathan Bigelow, Professor of Classics and Dean of Humanities Dr. Bob Cape, Emeritus Professor of Music Dr. Ricky Duhaime, Associate Professor of Theatre Dr. Kirk Everist, Associate Professor of Music Dr. John McGinn, Advocacy Program Coach Ed Richardson ’95, Director of Counseling Services Teresa Moore, Counselor Dr. Jimmy Wilkins, and many others.
“Sherman has supported the fine arts, and Austin College—being such a solid presence—had a lot to do with that because they were educated people, pursuing higher education, pursuing fine things, fine art,” Dunn said. “AC’s presence absolutely contributed to the fact that we have the Sherman Symphony Orchestra and Sherman Community Players—those things thrive more easily in an educated city, like Sherman.”
Another institution whose roots are intertwined with Austin College is the Sherman Symphony Orchestra (SSO). The SSO was originally the Sherman Civic Orchestra, its origins dating back to fall 1966 (it would become the Sherman Symphony Orchestra after its 7th season, in 1973).
The Sherman Musical Arts (a non-profit organization that has since dissolved) asked Cecil Isaac, an Austin College Music Department faculty member, if he would be interested in organizing a community orchestra. “I put some notices in the newspaper, ‘Musicians, we’re forming an orchestra!’ And our first meeting was in September [1966] at Craig Hall,” said Isaac in a 2020 interview with Austin College Adjunct Instructor in Music Leslie Whelan. “The stars were aligned for us to begin to think about having an orchestra. From the beginning, it was a joint effort with Austin College.” After a handful of Tuesday night practices, the orchestra’s first concert was held in Wynne Chapel on a Sunday afternoon that December.
Austin College Adjunct Instructor in Music Leslie Whelan (left) serves as the SSO’s Managing Director and helps coordinate the Austin College Summer Music Camp.
The popular, family-friendly Christmas Pops! (below) is an annual SSO performance and participatory celebration held on the Austin College campus in Sid Richardson Center.
Isaac led the Sherman Symphony Orchestra as its conductor for 26 years before passing the baton in 1992 to Daniel Dominick—who has been the SSO’s only other conductor. From that first concert in Wynne Chapel, they have grown to a thriving arts organization; they now perform eight annual concerts, including classical and Christmas Pops! performances in Kidd-Key Auditorium and Austin College’s Sid Richardson Center respectively. In 2026, the orchestra celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The collaboration between the SSO and Austin College continues to this day. Faculty from the Austin College Music Department actively participate in the orchestra, and Austin College students majoring in music can earn ensemble credit by performing with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra. (Other ensembles include Austin College Wind Symphony, ’Roo Band, Austin College Jazz Ensemble, and more.) Auditions are typically held during the first week of the fall term at Austin College.
The Sherman Symphony Orchestra also prioritizes educational outreach at the K-12 level. Since its inception in 2002, their education program has expanded to include 32 schools and more than 3,200 students. Whelan serves as the SSO’s Managing Director and also helps coordinate the Austin College Summer Music Camp (featured in the 2025 Austin College Magazine).
The Children’s Education Concert serves as the centerpiece for the SSO’s educational outreach efforts. Held annually, it welcomes over 2,000 fifthgraders to a free, one-hour concert introducing students to concertgoing, orchestral music, instrument families, and individual instruments. These engaging performances feature works ranging from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 to the Star Wars theme, demonstrating how music can express artistic ideas. The event is narrated by “Professor Music,” portrayed by a familiar face—Darrah Dunn!
These institutions, whose programs and histories are interwoven with Austin College, have benefited from a mutually enriching relationship with the College. It is thanks to higher education institutions like Austin College that Sherman was once known as the “Athens of Texas.” Sherman’s rich history of culture and the arts has been cultivated and nourished by the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Austin College. As Austin College celebrates 150 years in Texoma this year, it is truly a celebration of gratitude and connection.