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The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

A presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music, the concert will both celebrate the great tradition of American music and feature European folk tunes.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. James Dreiling, will begin the performance with a four-movement suite by famed band composer Frank Ticheli entitled “Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs.”

“This piece exemplifies the beauty, elegance and simplicity of Shaker folk songs and dances,” said Dreiling, who joins the music faculty this spring as interim assistant director of bands.

“Evensong,” composed by William Harbison, is the ensemble’s second piece and brings a modern twist to the sacred music tradition. The term “evensong” refers to a service of evening prayers, psalms and canticles taking place in late afternoon or evening in the western Christian tradition.

The Symphonic Band will conclude its celebration of American music with one of the most popular marches by lesser-known composer Frederick Ellsworth Bigelow. “Our Director,” published in 1895, is only one of three works by Bigelow but has become standard march repertoire, according to Dreiling.

The Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Tamey Anglley, will open its portion of the concert with the Norwegian march “Valdres” by Johannes Hanssen, arranged by Glenn C. Bainum. The title has both geographic and musical connotations, according Anglley, who is serving as interim associate director of bands at SFA.

“Valdres is a beautiful region in Norway between Oslo and Bergen,” she said. “Hanssen quotes an old signature fanfare for the Valdres Battalion, as well as other melodies derived from a Hardanger fiddle tune and folk tunes. It was first performed in 1904 by the band of the second regiment of Norway, with the composer playing the baritone horn himself.”

The Wind Symphony will end the concert with Vincent Persichetti’s Symphony No. 6 for Band, Op. 69. This four-movement work is considered a standard work in the band repertoire, Anglley said.

“Persichetti became a champion for the band movement by composing music of distinct quality specifically for band,” Anglley said. Persichetti stated, “The concert band is a medium of expression distinct from, but not subordinate to, any other medium. You can get lots of things out of a band that you just can’t get out of an orchestra.” His Symphony No. 6 was completed during the winter of 1955-56 and was premiered at the Music Educators National Conference in 1956. The first public performance was by the Goldman Band in New York with Persichetti conducting.

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.

Tickets are still available for the radio theatre presentation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Part of the SFA College of Fine Arts’ 2015-2016 University Series, this performance is presented by L.A. Theatre Works, the foremost radio theater company in the United States. For more than two decades, LATW, under the leadership of Producing Director Susan Albert Loewenberg, has delighted audiences with its unique live radio theater-style performances in more than 300 small towns and major cities across the nation.

This current tour of “Dracula” includes several actors with credits in the horror and suspense genre. The cast includes the well-known TV and film actor Nicholas Hormann as Dr. Van Helsing. Hormann has been seen in dozens of television hits including “The West Wing,” “Parks & Recreation,” “Modern Family” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Prior to the performance, Zach Hanks, SFA assistant professor of theatre, will present a 7 p.m. informative talk in Griffith Gallery about the show style. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is located in 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 event’s corporate sponsor, Lehmann Eye Center.

Single event ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students/youth. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.