The Sherman Symphony Orchestra began as the Sherman Civic Orchestra in 1966 with Austin College students, faculty, and community musicians getting together under the baton of Cecil Isaac, professor of music at Austin College in Sherman, TX, to perform the Beethoven First Symphony.  Over time this group grew to include professional players and a regular place on the schedule of the Community Series, Inc. concerts, a concert series supported in large part by Austin College.  Performances were given on the Austin College campus in the 700 seat Wynne Chapel.

In 1992 the baton passed from founding conductor maestro Isaac to Daniel Dominick.  Maestro Dominick has since added concerts to the season including two annual Children’s Educational Concerts for more than 1500 area fifth graders, increased the orchestra’s size to more than 70 musicians, and raised orchestral standards.  Now a fine regional orchestra, the SSO is the only symphony orchestra between the Dallas Metroplex and Tulsa.  Maestro Dominick has also introduced opera into the SSO’s repertoire with concert versions of great operas performed biennially.  These concerts include soloists, chorus, and translations of the text projected during the performance. 

In May of 2002 the SSO moved into its new home, Kidd-Key Auditorium, near downtown Sherman.  Performances in this beautifully restored 1937 concert hall have attracted new and even larger audiences.  The space includes over 1300 seats and an acoustic balance that affords every seat a great experience.  In the fall of 2012 the SSO began monthly broadcasts of performances on CBS-12 KXII.  The orchestra’s  performances are reaching an even greater audience than ever before in north Texas and southern Oklahoma.  Watch for our next broadcast advertised on channel 12!