Everything Nac

Fans of music made popular over the past 70 years won’t want to miss the fourth installment of the concert series “Broadway, Movies and Classics” presented by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Orchestra of the Pines at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

The program will take audiences through generations of music with the tunes of popular artists such as Journey, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Paul Simon and much more, according to Dr. Gene H. Moon, director of orchestras at SFA and of the Orchestra of the Pines.

Special guest and emcee for the night is Brad Maule, acting/directing and filmmaking instructor at SFA known for his long-standing role as Dr. Tony Jones on the TV serial “General Hospital.” Guest performer will be violinist John Ma, orchestra director at the University of Macau. Six student members of the Macau university orchestra will also perform.

“We have very special guests flying from halfway around the world to join us,” Moon said. “SFA has relationships with several universities in Hong Kong and Macau. Last year, 12 SFA students took the journey across the Pacific to collaborate in concert with the orchestra of the University of Macau. Now, six students from the University of Macau will make the journey to Nacogdoches and join the Orchestra of the Pines for our March 5 program.”

Ma will also join the orchestra in its performance of John Williams’ “Por Una Cabeza,” a tango for violin and orchestra popularized in many movies, but none so much as “Scent of a Woman,” Moon explained.

The concert will feature songs that every generation will recognize, Moon said.

“Nearly every piece will be very well known,” he said, “including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ music from ‘Star Wars,’ and even a song from back in the ’60s known as ‘Pinball Wizard.'”

Other favorites will include “Eye of the Tiger,” “Mack the Knife,” “Moonlight Serenade” and “Danzon No 2” by Arturo Marquez, along with a tribute to the “king” of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, and music by Cole Porter.

Concert 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.

When Elizabeth Hutchison, lecturer in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Computer Science, learned about the Girls Who Code club at the Nacogdoches Public Library, she immediately wanted to be involved, and students in the department responded just as enthusiastically.

For an hour each week, computer science students meet at the library and help local girls learn how to code. The nonprofit organization Girls Who Code teaches girls the basics of computer programming while the SFA students assist and answer questions.

“We have been having a blast getting out into the community and sharing our love of computer science,” Hutchison said.

The club meets from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and works on a “community service impact project,” said Crystal Hicks, Nacogdoches Public Library director.

“They’re thinking about ways they could create something that could positively impact some element of the community, in addition to learning coding and problem-solving skills,” Hicks said.

At the first meeting, participants picked an activity to work on long term, choosing to build a website. Additionally, the girls use code.org to do activities that supplement their coding knowledge.

“The girls learn computing skills that include functions, variables, conditionals and loops,” Hutchison said. “Beyond the computing skills, they also learn time management and teamwork, build confidence and enhance communication skills.”

The volunteering students assist the girls when they have questions, help debug their programs and explain programming concepts, said Ariel Inman, junior computer information systems major from Lufkin.

“I think it’s really great,” said Jordan Barge, senior computer science major from Houston, “and maybe not all girls are into that kind of thing, but if they are, it’s amazing that they have the opportunity.”

Tenay Barker, junior computer science major from Austin, volunteers with the group regularly out of a desire to be a positive role model for girls interested in STEM.

“I want to show them that they can be successful, and just because there are boys in the industry doesn’t mean only boys can code,” Barker said. “I love being a woman in a STEM major and hope to inspire other girls of all ages to pursue a degree in computer science or any other STEM major.”

While the club only meets once a week, Inman can already see the girls’ skills improving.

“I can definitely see it making a difference in these girls’ lives,” Inman said. “All of these girls are very smart and eager to learn. They come up with very inventive solutions to challenges we give them, and they constantly surprise me with their creativity.”

The ultimate goal, Hutchison said, is encouraging girls to express their interests in STEM.

“We want to show them that yes, you can be a girl and have an interest in computer science,” Hutchison said. “It is an awesome opportunity for these girls to see young women in college studying computer science.”

This partnership between the students and the girls in the club has been a vital part of its success, Hicks said.

“SFA students’ involvement has been critical,” Hicks said. “They are close in age to the girls but have lots of coding experience. They are friendly and patient and have really helped in explaining some of the future opportunities with coding.”

Barker is optimistic that the club will change how young women look at computer programming.

“Hopefully with clubs like Girls Who Code, more girls will see that they can directly impact society and be the change they want to see in the world by writing code,” Barker said.

By Joanna Armstrong, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University

Area students will learn that science can be fun and exciting when the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and the Children’s Performing Arts Series once again present Super Scientific Circus in two performances Wednesday, March 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

Widely popular among CPAS audiences, Super Scientific Circus features circus skills, magic tricks, comedy and mime to illustrate fundamental scientific concepts such as gravity, air pressure and ultraviolet light.

The program, which targets students in kindergarten through 12th grade, is designed to “help students understand that science can be appreciated in everything we see and do,” said Diane J. Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the Children’s Performing Arts Series.

Programs like Super Scientific Circus have been favorites among area students and their teachers and are almost always sell-out performances, Peterson said.

“Teachers will want to make reservations for their classes as soon as possible to ensure their students have the opportunity to experience this fun and educational performance,” she said.

Performance times are 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for individuals and $7.50 per person for groups of 20 or more. For tickets or more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.cpas.sfasu.edu.

This year’s final CPAS performance is Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “The Ugly Duckling,” the Hans Christian Anderson fable of the swan who grows up “ugly” in a family of ducks, later to find his appearance changing as he discovers his true identity. Performances are on Friday, April 27, in Turner Auditorium.

Join Stephen F. Austin State University’s Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands for a thrilling evening of jazz and fun at the Fredonia Brewery on Friday, March 2, starting at 6 p.m.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m., hear music composed and arranged by the late Darrell Holt, a nationally recognized jazz arranger/composer and a former director of the Swingin’ Axes. The Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium studies, will open the set followed by the Swingin’ Axes.

“The weather will be beautiful for dancing under the stars. Sit at provided picnic tables or bring your own folding chairs and get comfortable,” said Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music and director of the Axes.

Then, from 8 to 9 p.m., listen to SFA jazz combos as they perform a wide variety of jazz styles. “The small group jazz setting has really allowed the students to be innovative. They are composing and arranging some beautiful music that they are eager to perform,” Scott added.

At 9 p.m., the Axes will return to the stage to play some funk and rock favorites by Michael Jackson, Al Jarreau and many more.

The Fredonia Brewery will serve beer and other beverages produced at its downtown Nacogdoches facility. Eat a Bite Food Truck will also be on site with sandwiches, burgers and other American fare for purchase.

Proceeds will benefit the jazz area in the SFA School of Music.

The Fredonia Brewery is located at 138 N. Mound St. Rain or shine, the event will be dry with a tent set up on site.

Tickets at the door are $15. Pre-sale tickets are $10 and are available at the SFA Fine Arts Box Office, by calling (936) 468-6407 or by visiting www.finearts.sfasu.edu. Ticket prices do not include cost of food or beverages.

As giggles hush in the library of Brooks-Quinn-Jones Elementary School, Stephen F. Austin State University senior Melanie Lynch begins reading “Anna Hibiscus’ Song” by Atinuke and Lauren Tobia.

Recently, SFA students and faculty members participated in the National African-American Read-In, an event promoting diversity in children’s literature and highlighting African-American authors. This is the second year SFA has participated.

“I love being involved with the students and helping improve their educational experience,” Lynch said.

During the read-in, SFA students and faculty members read to students at B.Q.J. Elementary School and Nacogdoches High School. Dr. Lauren Burrow, assistant professor in SFA’s Department of Elementary Education, organized the read-in at the elementary school, while Dr. Heather Olson Beal, associate professor in the Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership, orchestrated the high school event.

“The read-in is good for my college students to see how they can make books relevant and connect with their students through characters, authors and the storyline,” Burrow said. “It’s also great to see the elementary students respond to the story and feel good about themselves.”

“Anna Hibiscus’ Song” focuses on happiness and how people express their joy. High school students learned the importance of valuing oneself and others by reading poems from Langston Hughes, Clint Smith, Nikki Giovanni and Kerry Jackson. Students also viewed a video of SFA alumna Nytesia Ross presenting spoken word poetry.

“It’s important for students to know their voices matter and that they can use their voices to change the world like the African-American authors whose works we engaged with as part of the read-in,” Beal said.

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