Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) graduate Sam Pollock is using his musical talents to educate and entertain the community.

Pollock graduated from TVCC in 2020 with an Associate of Arts in Music. While at TVCC, he performed in the Cardinal Regiment Marching Band and Jazz Band.

Before starting classes at TVCC, Pollock had the opportunity to march with the band in his junior year of high school at Crandall ISD.

 "I always knew about TVCC because there’s a campus near Crandall," Pollock explained. "But when I was in high school, I had the opportunity in my junior year to march in a Christmas Parade alongside the TVCC band."

Getting the opportunity to march with the band was his first exposure to TVCC’s music program. "It was a thrilling experience," he shared. "As you progress through high school to college, you learn that the music and musicians you work with are constantly getting better. That’s the first time I got to experience that."

After having the opportunity to march with the Cardinal Regiment, Pollock considered attending TVCC for its music program, but his decision wasn’t finalized until he auditioned for the band.

“TVCC came to Crandall to give students the opportunity to audition,” he mentioned. “It was then that I was offered a full-ride scholarship to be in the marching band and major in music.”

In the summer of 2018, Pollock experienced the sense of community at TVCC firsthand.

“Before classes start, you get to meet everyone in the band, work on the marching show, and practice music during summer band camps,” he added. “There were a lot of bonding moments that happened. The feeling of community at TVCC was instilled in me.”

After graduating from TVCC, Pollock continued his education at the University of Texas at Tyler, earning his Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Instrumental Music Education.

“I have a strong fundamental background because of Trinity Valley, specifically in the academic side of music,” he noted. “Because of that, I was able to succeed at the university level.”

After graduating from UT Tyler, Pollock began teaching at multiple schools’ band camps, including Crandall High School, Athens Independent School District, Tyler High School, and Brownsboro ISD, among others. He also taught music at Douglas Elementary School in Tyler, TX for the 22-23 school year.

“It gave me a lot of experience working with students and figuring out what works and what doesn’t in teaching,” he explained. “Plus, it’s cool to meet so many students!”

Pollock shared that a student from Brownsboro ISD, with whom he is currently working in private lessons, plans to attend TVCC in the fall of 2024.

“It’s pretty cool to see one of my students attending a school a few years after I did,” he added. “Plus, the great thing about TVCC is you’re getting the same quality education as you would at a university but at a cheaper price.”

He is currently pursuing a dual Master of Music Degree in Saxophone Performance and Multiple Woodwinds at Oklahoma City University’s Wanda L. Bass School of Music. Pollock plans to pursue a career as a music educator at the collegiate level upon graduating.

“I tried teaching at an elementary level and realized it wasn’t for me,” he added. “But it helped me realize I want to teach at a higher education level, specifically at a junior college. Because of what Trinity Valley taught me and instilled in me, I would like to do that for other students.”