Austin College Hosts Fifth Annual Summer Music Camp

SHERMAN, TEXAS – The Austin College Music Department hosted its fifth annual Austin College Summer Music Camp from June 8 – June 12. The campus was bustling with 115 students representing 10 North Texas districts, comprising the largest group yet in the camp’s history.

The weeklong camp, a joint effort of Austin College and the Sherman Symphony Orchestra (SSO), provides middle and high school students with opportunities to develop their musical prowess in woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, vocal, and chamber music.

“Austin College is becoming a summer destination for students who love music,” said Director of ACSMC and Adjunct Instructor in Applied Music Leslie Whelan.

Faculty at this year’s camp included educators from Sherman, Denison, Denton, McKinney, Frisco, Van Alstyne, and Princeton.Austin College Associate Professor of Engineering Dr. Rahul Renu gave a guest presentation in which students learned about industrial engineering and assembly lines and took part in a hands-on group activity. Another guest presentation was given by University of Oklahoma Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Chair Dr. Amyn Amlani on auditory health for musicians. There was also a new elective offered called “Sound & Color,” in which students created artwork inspired by music.

“While ACSMC makes it possible for students to learn and perform new music each summer and study with great teachers, it is also the only program of its kind that includes instruction in other disciplines,” said Whelan. “Where else can students learn about music, engineering, audiology, and visual arts in the same program? We are proud to create an environment that fosters both musical excellence and students' varied interests.”

Instructors for the camp included Sherman Symphony Orchestra principal musicians alongside Austin College Music Department faculty. Music Department Chair and Professor of Music Dan Dominick, Director of Bands Dr. Ash Glenn, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Applied Music Dr. Andy Wright, and Adjunct Instructor in Music Lilly Boessen ’23 led various ensembles.

The final concert was performed on June 12—opening with the National Anthem sung by former ACSMC camper and current camp staff member Colman Scheibmeir, and concluded with a collaborative band, orchestra, and choir performance that included nearly 70 musicians. The musicians performed “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” as arranged by Dan Dominick.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 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. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.