Everything Nac

The School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University has established a scholarship to honor Dr. Tim King, the former director of choral activities at SFA who retired in 2017.

The Tim King Choral Scholarship is being unveiled this week to coincide with the annual convention of the Texas Music Educators Association Feb. 13 through 16 in San Antonio.

“Creating a choral scholarship bearing Dr. Tim King’s name honors the many years of service Tim gave to our great university – music which enriched our Nacogdoches community and the devotion he gave to his students,” said Dr. Michael Murphy, associate professor of music and director of choral activities at SFA.

King joined the SFA music faculty in 1983 and enjoyed a 30-plus year tenure with the university, positively influencing the careers of countless students. He directed the A Cappella Choir through numerous tours of Europe and conducted the student ensemble in performances in such prestigious venues as St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, San Marco (St. Mark’s) Basilica and the Vatican.

In the 2014-15 academic year, King was named Regents Professor, the highest honor SFA bestows upon members of the faculty and reserved for exemplary university role models.

“SFA choral graduates are now conductors and music education leaders throughout Texas and the United States,” King said. “What an honor to represent my former students through this endowed scholarship.

“It goes without saying that this scholarship will inspire the next generation of SFA choral excellence,” he added. “I sincerely want to thank Dr. Murphy for his leadership and to all contributors for their sponsorship.”

Helping to build the King scholarship fund to benefit future choral students is a great way of saying “thank you” to an educator who gave the Nacogdoches community countless performances of beautiful choral music, according to Murphy.

“No doubt this scholarship, when fully funded, will help ensure future students realize a career in choral music,” Murphy added.

Contributions to the Tim King Choral Scholarship can be made by visiting www.sfasu.edu/timking

The SFA Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, in Cole Concert Hall on the university campus.[/caption]The Percussion Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Brad Meyer and Dr. Ben Tomlinson, the ensemble will present a preview of its showcase concert to be performed at the 2019 Texas Music Educators Association Convention on Feb. 14 in San Antonio.

The preview concert features “Gandrung” by Bill Alves; “Ritmica No. 5” by Amadeo Roldán; “B-Radicles” by Brad Meyer; “Lost in Thought” by Andrew Patzig; and “Boom Bap” by Nick Werth.

Ensemble members include Ethan Ainsworth, Hallsville; D’Angelo Brackeen, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Joseph Bankston, Giddings; Davis Carr, Sugar Land; Adreanna Casares, Somerville; Eli Garza, Friendswood; Rick Gonzalez, Harlingen; Sam Harrison, San Antonio; Jason House, Carrollton; Ashley Johnson, Allen; graduate assistant Spencer Jones, Alexandria, Louisiana; Sophie Lee, Kyle; Spencer Matthews, Alvarado; Briley Patterson, Elkhart; Emmie Schubert, Tomball; Kurt Swisher, Tyler; Addie Thornhill, Redwater; Matt Volker, Lumberton; and Austen White, Robinson.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music.

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.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens, the Pineywoods Audubon Society and the university’s student chapter of the National Association for Interpretation are sponsoring the Great Backyard Bird Count from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 16 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.

This free, outdoor event will have activities designed to increase knowledge and appreciation of birds for youth and adults. A variety of family friendly, hands-on learning activities will be set up, including using binoculars, learning bird identification skills, playing bird games and making bird-related crafts.

In addition, there will be opportunities to participate in the national Great Backyard Bird Count as participants count birds for science with assistance from the Pineywoods Audubon Society and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department non-game ornithologist Cliff Shackelford.

Shackelford will lead guided hikes along the trails of Tucker Woods at the PNPC.

“Birdwatching is fun for all ages, especially as a family activity, and our area hosts a lot of fascinating species,” Shackelford said.

Winter is the ideal time for bird watching, and the PNPC is a haven for local birds. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. The event will be held rain or shine.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada and international partners are leading the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is powered by eBird, and the count is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

For more information, call (936) 468-1832, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.