Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University and the Tyler Independent School District Head Start program will launch their new partnership with a celebration at 11 a.m. Oct. 10 at the St. Louis Early Childhood Center, located at 2800 Walton Road in Tyler. This celebration is open to the public.

In fall 2017, SFA began offering a completely online Bachelor of Science in human sciences with an emphasis in human development and family studies. This new online program offers students, regardless of their location, an opportunity to study at SFA and earn a four-year degree.

Several of the courses in the human development and family studies program are hands-on and require service-learning experiences, such as volunteering at organizations like Head Start and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. A partnership with Tyler Head Start will help provide Tyler area students a place to complete their service learning and gain valuable experiences.

“We are excited about the partnership,” said Dr. Flora Farago, assistant professor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences. “Head Start programs across the country typically serve low-income, vulnerable children and families. Through these Head Start affiliated service-learning and internship opportunities, SFA students can gain the professional and life skills they will need to serve and succeed in an increasingly globalized world.”

With this bachelor’s degree, students learn to become “caretakers of our society,” explained Dr. Rachel Jumper, assistant professor in the School of Human Sciences at SFA. Students learn to understand the growth, change and development of children, adults and the family while integrating a lifespan, multi-contextual and family systems approach.

“Tyler ISD Head Start is excited about the partnership with SFA. In Head Start, we have many opportunities for interns to experience working with the community, families and students,” said Stacy Miles, director of Tyler ISD Head Start. “This experience will prepare students for the work force and discover available job opportunities in the community.”

Upon graduation, students have a variety of career options, including early intervention specialists, lobbyists, directors of child care and senior citizen facilities, Head Start teachers, parent educators and camp directors.

For more information about the program, visit sfaonline.info/human-development-and-family-studies.

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

“Young Talent” is the program theme when guest artist Blake Birmingham performs a euphonium recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Featuring Birmingham performing pieces from the 2018 and 2019 Leonard Falcone Euphonium and Tuba Competition, the program will also showcase the talents of Hyun Ji Oh, piano accompanist at SFA, and Dr. Danny Chapa, low brass faculty in the School of Music.

Birmingham is the winner of the 2018 Leonard Falcone Euphonium and Tuba Festival Solo Artist Division.

“We are beyond excited to have Blake Birmingham perform a guest artist recital for our low brass studio this semester,” Chapa said. “He recently won first place in the Solo Artist Division of the 2018 Leonard Falcone Euphonium and Tuba Festival, which is one of our most prestigious competitions named after one of the most influential figures in the euphonium world.”

The program selection “Frevo Para 8 Baixos by Arlindo dos 8 Baixos,” arrangement by Caio César, will feature both Birmingham and Chapa on euphonium.

“Mr. Birmingham programmed this piece after listening to an album by Fernando Deddos, a well-established Brazilian euphonium player,” Chapa said. “Caio César’s arrangement of ‘Frevo Para 8 Baixos’ is a light-hearted piece that highlights the virtuosic capabilities of the euphonium, as it was originally for accordion.”

Birmingham will perform Barbara York’s “Prophesies,” which is the piece to be used in the preliminary round of the 2019 Leonard Falcone Euphonium and Tuba Festival.

“Who better to perform it than the recent winner of the competition?” Chapa said.

The program also includes selections from “7 Popular Spanish Songs” by Manuel de Falla, arrangement by Thomas Ruedi.

Birmingham is a freelance euphoniumist, trombonist, low brass educator and composer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Birmingham has performed with The University of North Texas Wind Symphony, The Lone Star Wind Orchestra, The University of North Texas Symphonic Band, The University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra and The Starlight Band. He has also recorded exclusively with The University of North Texas Wind Symphony, Lone Star Wind Orchestra and University of North Texas Symphonic Band.

As an educator, Birmingham has taught low brass in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. As a soloist, Birmingham has performed throughout the United States, and also in France. He has appeared as a soloist with the Broken Arrow Wind Ensemble, the Tulsa Community College Concert Band, the Tulsa Community College Community Band, the Timber Creek High School Wind Symphony and the Blue Lake Festival Band. He has won numerous euphonium competitions and is a Besson performing artist.

The concert is a joint presentation of the College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.