Everything Nac

Houston bassist Dennis Whittaker will present a guest artist recital at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, in the Music Recital Hall in the Wright Music Building on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

His performance is a feature of the SFA School of Music’s Calliope Concert Series and will highlight works by Francois Rabbath, J.S. Bach, Cesar Franck and other composers.

The program includes Rabbath’s “2 Miniatures” and “Breiz,” Bach’s Suite No 5 in B minor, and Franck’s Sonata in A Major. The recital works also include the Texas premiere of Andres Martin’s “Sueños” and Evan Premo’s “Artemis in the Oak Grove.”

Whittaker wears many hats as a professional bassist and educator. He is the principal double bassist for the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, is the bass teacher for the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, and is a bass pedagogy consultant. He has appeared on eight world premiere recordings with the Houston Grand Opera, various recordings with Houston artists, and on recordings as principal bass with the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy. He was the winner of the Gary Karr Foundation National Double Bass competition in 1987. He has performed recitals, concerts and master classes in Japan, China, Italy, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Louisiana.

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 Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will open its 2017-18 season on Friday, Oct. 13, with a performance of the Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs.”

This musical adaptation of the classic Grimm’s fairy tale comes to life with a talented ensemble of actors and wonderful puppets, according to Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the series.

“Follow along as Snow White meets her pint-sized friends, takes the apple from the Evil Queen, receives a kiss from the Prince, and lives happily ever after,” Peterson said. “This faithful rendition of the fable will inspire young audiences to read the original.”

“Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs” targets children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in W.M. Turner Auditorium, located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

This presentation of “Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs,” based on the original story by the Brothers Grimm, is by Bruce Craig Miller and Ford Flannagan with lyrics by Bruce Craig Miller and music by Ron Barnett.

Presented by the SFA College of Fine Arts, the Children’s Performing Arts Series annually features five shows designed to entertain, educate and engage young audiences of all ages, according to Peterson. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post-performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A study guide for “Snow White” may be accessed at http://va-rep.org/tour/guides/snow_white.pdf.

Other upcoming CPAS performances include “A Christmas Carol” on Friday, Dec. 1; “Harriet Tubman & The Underground Railroad” on Thursday, Feb. 1; Super Scientific Circus on Wednesday, March 7; and “The Ugly Duckling” on Friday, April 27.

To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at www.cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present faculty member J.D. Salas performing a program titled “Muses and Dances” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Cole Concert Hall in the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium studies, said each program selection is meant to highlight the tuba’s ability to perform in several styles that are not commonly found in the repertoire.

“Many people think of the tuba as a ‘background’ instrument in the band or as the bass line to a polka or a march,” he said. “These recital selections each illustrate the beautiful tone and technical versatility of the instrument.”

Salas will collaborate with several musicians on the recital, including Dr. James Pitts, piano; Dr. Danny Chapa, euphonium; and Dr. Brad Meyer, Dr. Ben Tomlinson, and Spencer Jones, percussion.

The program features “Sweet Dances” by Elizabeth Raum, which is a work for unaccompanied tuba that looks to emulate several of the collections of dances composed by Johann Sebastian Bach “but in completely updated fashion,” Salas explained. Instead of traditional titles such as the Gavotte or Sarabande, Raum uses whimsical titles like “Blew Tango” or “Waltzn’ Matuba,” in addition to the jazz rock dance titled ” A Hard Knight’s Day.”

“Five Muses for Tuba and Piano” by John Stevens is a relatively new work in which Salas was part of the commissioning consortium with several other tuba performers and educators.

“This piece explores the vast range the tuba can perform, which is about five octaves,” he said. “Each movement depicts one of five of the nine muses found in Greek mythology: Euterope, song; Thalia, comedy; Melpomene, tragedy; Terpsichore, dance; and Erato, love.”

Also on the program, “Diversive Elements” by David Gillingham is a trio for tuba, euphonium and piano. It illustrates the complex rhythmic elements between the three instruments through five short movements.

The recital is the first of several events for the 12th annual Octubafest at SFA, Salas said. Octubafest is an event that occurs at many universities around the world seeking to highlight the tuba and euphonium for their solo and chamber repertoire. Other events in the series include guest artist performances by Andrew Hitz, tuba (formerly of the Boston Brass), on Oct. 9; Stephen Kunzer, tuba (professor of tuba/euphonium at OSU), on Oct. 27; the euphonium quartet fLOW on Oct. 11; and performances by the entire SFA Tuba-Euphonium Studio and the SFA Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble.

The recital is part of the School of Music’s Calliope Concert Series. 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.

Lufkin native Skylan Graham, senior accounting major at Stephen F. Austin State University, is the first student in the Rusche College of Business’ Schlief School of Accountancy to be awarded the prestigious Public Company Accounting Oversight Board scholarship.

“To be recognized by such an organization is an award in and of itself. This generous endowment to my education is such a blessing because of the financial relief it has given me,” Graham said. “I am passionate about accounting, and this recognition only serves to further drive me in my studies and career.”

The PCAOB scholarship program provides funding to encourage outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to pursue a career in auditing, according to the organization’s website.

Each year the PCAOB selects educational institutions and invites them to nominate a student recipient for the scholarship. The student must be enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program in accounting at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university; demonstrate interest and aptitude in accounting and auditing and high ethical standards; and not be a PCAOB employee, child or spouse.

Graham transferred to SFA from Angelina College and quickly adapted to college life. Currently, she works as associate auditor for Axley & Rode, LLP, a certified public accounting firm.

“At one point, I doubted if I was fit for college, but I decided to take the risk and quickly found myself at ease with my studies,” Graham said. “Every step of the way my professors from both Angelina College and SFA have encouraged me to set higher goals for myself and helped me see my potential. In fact, it was because of the nomination by the Schlief School of Accountancy that I was eligible for this scholarship.”

Dr. Kelly Noe, director of SFA’s Schlief School of Accountancy, has worked with Graham while she studied at Angelina College, and Noe served as Graham’s internship supervisor.

“Skylan was impressive from the start, and she has continued to perform at the highest level. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA while working close to full-time hours,” Noe said. “Her dedication and academic aptitude made her a great candidate for the scholarship.”

Graham is enrolled in SFA’s five-year master’s accounting program and hopes to graduate in December 2018 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Professional Accountancy.

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

The Orchestra of the Pines at Stephen F. Austin State University opens its 2017-18 season with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony on Monday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The Orchestra of the Pines, in its 12th season with SFA’s Director of Orchestras Dr. Gene H. Moon, continues the tradition of presenting classical orchestral concerts to the community, students and region.

Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, considered to have “eclipsed” the renowned composer’s prior six symphonies, was last performed by the orchestra in March 2009, which was the inaugural year when the orchestra became a wholly student orchestra. “So the work has a special place in my repertoire,” Moon said.

“All of Beethoven’s symphonies are considered major works in the evolution of symphonic literature,” Moon said. “For every argument that his greatest is the Fifth Symphony, an equal faction of arguments will be made to support the Seventh Symphony as the pinnacle representation of Beethoven’s greatest symphony.

“Regardless of the argument, most will agree that the Seventh Symphony is one of the most popularly programmed pieces of music by the composer,” he added.

The program will also feature Prelude to “Hansel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck.

“‘Hansel and Gretel’ is arguably one of the most successful opera fairy tales ever penned to paper,” Moon said. “It remains one of the most beautiful concert overtures performed onstage, chock full of soaring melodies and picturesque moments that portray its operatic characters.”

The concert will feature two guest artists who are winners of the School of Music’s 2017 Concerto/Aria contests: Scott Augustine, saxophone, performing as soloist on Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra; and Juan Garza, baritone, performing as soloist on Ambroise Thomas’ grand opera, “Hamlet.”

Moon described the the Tomasi concerto as “sensational work that brilliantly joins elements of jazz alongside the bombastic forces of the orchestra.”

“It’s like Prokofiev meets Gershwin, all wrapped up in the subtle nuances of French compositional mastery,” he said.

Moon explained that ‘O vin, dissipe la tristesse’ is a melancholy aria from Thomas’ opera in which the title character of name, Hamlet, sings of his love for wine and his desire for it to dissipate his sadness.

A native of El Paso, Garza is recent SFA graduate with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. While at SFA, he was a student of Dr. Scott LaGraff. During his studies, Juan performed the title role in “Gianni Schicchi,” Kezal in “The Barterded Bride,” Joe in “The Most Happy Fella,” and Melchior in “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” This past spring, he performed the role of Mr. Ford in “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” He has performed leading roles in scenes from “La bohème,” “Falstaff,” “Le nozze di Figaro,” “Rigoletto,” “Don Giovanni,” “Street Scene,” “Kismet” and “The Merry Widow.” He has also performed solos in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem, George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah,” Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, and the “Seven Last Words of Christ” by Théodore Dubois. In 2014, Garza was accepted as an apprentice artist at Opera in the Ozarks. He has performed numerous roles with the Gilbert and Sullivan Company of El Paso. Currently, Garza is a member of the Houston Grand Opera Chorus and teaches private voice in Houston.

Augustine is a senior at SFA studying with Dr. Nathan Nabb. He is from Humble where he attended Atascocita High School. As the soprano chair of the Orphic Quartet, Augustine and his ensemble placed first in the 2016 State MTNA Chamber Competition, was a finalist in the Coltman Chamber Competition, and presented a recital in the Navy Band’s 39th International Saxophone Symposium. The Orphic members were recognized as Top Scholars in the 2017 SFA Undergraduate Research Conference. Augustine has performed in master classes with Dr. Frederick Hemke, Professor Joseph Lulloff, and the Masato Kumoi Saxophone Quartet. He is working toward a Bachelor of Music Pre-Certification and hopes to pursue graduate studies in saxophone performance.

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.

Fun and exciting works for saxophone and piano will be featured in a recital presented by Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music faculty member Dr. Nathan Nabb at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Nabb, professor of saxophone, will be joined by Hyun Ji Oh, collaborative pianist, for a program of established works for saxophone and piano that Nabb describes as “excellent chamber pieces in which the technical and musical characteristics of the saxophone and piano are both featured.”

“I am very pleased to be performing with one of our new pianists, Hyun Ji Oh,” Nabb said. “She is a fantastic pianist and a really compelling musician. We have had a great time putting this program together, and I know it will be a fun and engaging performance!”

Opening the program is Ida Gotkovsky’s “Variations Pathetiques.”

“We chose the first piece because it is a thrilling work and is a standard in our repertoire,” Nabb said. “It is a highly rhythmic and technical work, but is at the same time very audience-friendly and a powerful piece.”

Paul Creston’s Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano is often studied by advanced high-school players and college students, so it is often considered a student work, Nabb said.

“But this is an amazing piece of music, and one that deserves to be heard,” he said. “In particular, I find the second movement to be so rewarding to study and perform, as it has such lush harmonies and beautiful, lyrical lines.”

The final piece on the program is actually originally for flute, but has found its place in the saxophone repertoire, Nabb explained. François Borne’s “Carmen Fantasy” features all of the familiar tunes from George Bizet’s famous opera, “and then explores them in a virtuosic contest for the soloist and pianist.”

The recital is part of the School of Music’s Calliope Concert Series. 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.

Students in Stephen F. Austin State University’s American Marketing Association student chapter and the University of Houston Downtown are co-hosting the Regional Fall Student AMA Conference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in the McGee Business Building on the SFA campus.

The conference offers students an opportunity to compete in marketing and sales competitions as well as listen to guest speakers. All students, regardless of their major, are welcome to attend this free conference.

“This conference will give students an advantage as they pursue their careers. It will expose them to professional speakers from the industry as well as provide them an opportunity to compete and sharpen their skills,” said Dr. Marlene Kahla, SFA professor in the Rusche College of Business’ Department of Management and Marketing.

During the conference, participants will be able to compete in either the marketing strategy competition, where teams will form a marketing plan and analyze the client’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, or the salesmanship competition, where teams will create a sales pitch to sell their client to judges.

Registration for conference competitions will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the McGee Business Building, Room 133.

Additionally, participants will hear from various guest speakers, including Nacogdoches Mayor Shelley Brophy.

Jim Iyoob, chief customer officer of Etech Global Services, will discuss the vision for the industry for the next five years from 9:25 to 9:50 a.m., and Garret Altier, marketing coordinator for SFA’s Department of Athletics, will present “Selecting the Right First Job” and discuss how to evaluate job offers from 10 to 10:20 a.m.

Also, Maci Dover, director of marketing for Whataburger, will speak about preparing for a career from 10 to 10:20 a.m. Stephanie Schubert, Texas region recruiter for Hajoca, will talk with students about how to build a résumé and prepare for interviews from 11 to 11:20 a.m.

Excel ER and SFA’s Center for Career and Professional Development will have information tables set up in the McGee Business Building.

For more information, contact Kahla at (936) 468-4103 or mkahla@sfasu.edu.

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