Whelan and McGinn to Perform Spring Faculty Recital at Austin College

SHERMAN, TEXAS – The Austin College Music Department presents Adjunct Instructor of Applied Music, cellist Leslie Whelan, and Associate Professor of Music, pianist Dr. John McGinn, in a free recital held inside Wynne Chapel on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 3 p.m.

Whelan and McGinn, who have been performing annual recitals at the College since 2022, will be accompanied by soprano Patricia Vigil and baritone Daniel Lickteig. The recital will include music written by contemporary composers Arvo Pärt, Jake Heggie, Mark O’Connor, and Lori Laitman.

Whelan received degrees in cello performance from Ithaca College and the University of Maryland, College Park. She teaches at Austin College and performs with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra. Whelan also serves as the Sherman Symphony Orchestra’s Education Director, and is the founding director of Austin College Summer Music Camp.

McGinn received his undergraduate music degree from Harvard University and his D.M.A. in composition from Stanford University. Among his mentors are such noted composers as Jonathan Harvey, Leon Kirchner, and John Adams. His own works have received several honors and been performed at colleges and festivals worldwide.

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.