Everything Nac

A group of Stephen F. Austin State University students and faculty members recently presented research at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Houston along with students from the Nacogdoches Independent School District.

The group shared insight on a variety of topics while also networking with industry professionals. SFA faculty members within the James I. Perkins College of Education who attended the conference included Drs. Chrissy Cross, assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership; Heather Olson Beal, associate professor of secondary education and educational leadership; and Lauren Burrow, associate professor of elementary education. The faculty members conducted a session on Barrio Writers, a weeklong summer program that empowers teens through creative writing and literature.

SFA has been offering Barrio Writers to the Nacogdoches community for four years, and many of this year’s Barrio Writers participants from NISD acted as co-presenters at the convention.

“This was a huge honor, as more than 6,000 people attended the convention,” Burrow said. “The theme of this year’s convention was Student Voice, so NCTE generously agreed to waive the conference attendance fee so our NISD students could present for free.”

During its session, the group hosted a smaller version of the Barrio Writers workshop where students performed spoken word poetry or read a poem, essay, open letter or short story.

“It’s hard for me to find the words to explain what happened during the presentation. The youth were amazing as they spoke powerfully about Barrio Writers, their creative writing and the community we have created with Barrio Writers,” Beal said. “They spoke about learning to use their voices — both in terms of speaking out about issues important to them and about using their writing abilities to advocate for themselves and others.”

Additionally, SFA students Jacqueline Jackson and Claire Rumsey presented a session on how teachers can promote diverse books in their classrooms and communities year-round.

The SFA Charter School also sent Nicole Burrow, a fourth-grade student, to the convention as a co-presenter for a poster session on Novel Engineering, a project blending literature and engineering.

For more information about SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education, visit coe.sfasu.edu.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Music Preparatory Division in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present its students performing in a number of upcoming fall recitals.

Piano students of SFA music major instructors and students of Dr. Mario Ajero will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, in Music Recital Hall in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

A harp and saxophone recital will feature the students of Susanna Campbell and Nicholas Bissen at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in the Music Recital Hall.

Two performances will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8, beginning with the violin and cello students of Drs. Jennifer Dalmas and Evgeni Raychev at 1 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall. Beginning at 2 p.m. in the performance hall of the Music Prep Building, 3028 Raguet St., will be a guitar and ukulele recital by students of Chance Moore and Joseph Booth and a violin and viola recital by students of Alba Madrid.

The Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, directed by Raychev, will perform at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The SFA Young Violinists, featuring students of Brenda Josephsen, will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, in the Music Recital Hall.

A piano recital featuring the students of Linda Parr will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, in the Music Recital Hall.

The final fall recital will feature the piano students of Mary Cooper performing at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, in the Music Recital Hall.

All recitals are open to the public.

Music Prep offers musical training on any level of proficiency. Overall musicianship is stressed in addition to the study of an instrument. Private music lessons are offered in piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, classical guitar, voice, trumpet, ukulele, clarinet, saxophone, composition and flute. Other instruction can be added upon request.

In addition to the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, Music Prep offers two adult piano classes, the Raguet Strings adult ensemble and Music Theory Adventures classes. Music Prep teaches all ages, from infants to 80 and beyond.

For a complete listing of classes and types of instruction available, visit www.music.sfasu.edu/prep or contact Director Pat Barnett at (936) 468-1291.

Stephen F. Austin State University students in the School of Human Sciences wrapped up their fourth annual Cooking Matters program with a graduation ceremony and game night.

During this six-week collaborative course with the East Texas Food Bank, SFA students worked with community members to educate them on healthy eating habits and budgeting.

SFA students helped administer the program to community members connected with the Helping Other People Eat organization. This year, 18 community members graduated from the program from among 20 participants.

“This year has been the most successful based on participants who graduated,” said Justin Pelham, food, nutrition and dietetics clinical instructor at SFA. “We look forward to future partnerships with the East Texas Food Bank in community nutrition to create transformative learning experiences for our students.”

During the final meeting, students and participants competed in a Jeopardy-style game and tasted homemade tortilla chips and black bean brownies. Participants also received a reusable bag, a chef apron, a flexible cutting board and various kitchen utensils based on prior meeting attendance.

To learn more about SFA’s food, nutrition and dietetics program, visit sfasu.edu/hms/101.asp.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The choirs at Stephen F. Austin State University, along with many guest musicians, will present SFA’s traditional holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the university campus.

The highly anticipated “Christmas Celebration” concert will feature “Lux Aeterna” (Light Eternal) by acclaimed contemporary composer Morten Lauridsen, along with other seasonal favorites, according to Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities for the SFA School of Music.

SFA’s A Cappella Choir, Men’s Choir and Women’s Choir, with Murphy and Dr. Tod Fish conducting, will be accompanied by organist Dr. Christina Harmon.

The program also features Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and a Christmas carol audience sing-a-long.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Turner Auditorium is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will host a holiday exhibition that provides a glimpse into the celebrations of Christmas from bygone eras.

The Christmas display, which shows Dec. 1 through Dec. 30, includes vintage and antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys from days gone by. The vignette will offer a glimpse into how this favorite holiday was celebrated 100 years ago, according to John Handley, director of art galleries for Stephen F. Austin State University.

“This will be the third year we have featured a vignette in the center of the Ledbetter Gallery at the Cole Art Center,” Handley said. “Several museums around the United States put up holiday displays as a family-friendly feature. The Taft Museum in Cincinnati does a series of elaborate displays each December, highlighting the artistry and history of Christmas celebrations from a century ago.”

Mike Moore with the Nacogdoches Public Library will present family-friendly Christmas stories at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, with some simple craft projects to follow.

Sponsors for the display are The Flower Shop, SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, William Arscott and Nacogdoches Junior Forum. Admission to exhibitions is free.

SFA School of Art’s historic downtown gallery, The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Cutline: Antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys from days gone by will be featured in a vintage Christmas display showing at Cole Art Center Dec. 1 through Dec. 30.

Tickets to The Purple Xperience, the most authentic Prince tribute show in the world, are still available for the group’s Nov. 30 concert at Stephen F. Austin State University.

A special Encore Event in the College of Fine Arts’ University Series and sponsored in part by Lehmann Eye Center, The Purple Xperience is a five-piece group that transports the spirit and sound of Prince direct from Minneapolis.

Featuring front man Marshall Charloff, who once recorded with Prince, The Purple Xperience has entertained well over 300,000 fans and shared the bill with The Time, Cheap Trick, Gin Blossoms, Cameo, Fetty Wap, the Atlanta Rhythm Section and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Prior to the performance, Herbert Midgley, music technology lecturer in the SFA School of Music, will present an informative talk at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is inside the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to meet the performers and to honor the corporate sponsor.

Encore Event tickets are $45 for Section A seating; $36 for Section B seating; and $27 for Section C seating. Discounts are available for seniors, students, children and SFA faculty and staff members.

For more information, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.