Everything Nac

The Orchestra of the Pines at Stephen F. Austin State University will welcome guest artists when the ensemble performs the program “Curtain Raisers” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Conducted by Dr. Gene Moon, director of orchestras at SFA, and guest conductors, the Orchestra of the Pines will present three well-known works, including Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to “Candide,” Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor and Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor.

Starting the program, SFA Assistant Director of Bands Dr. Tamey Anglley will take the orchestra through a spirited performance of Overture to “Candide.”

“Dr. Anglley is a masterful technician on the podium who captures the essence of the music, inspires the orchestra and will assuredly captivate the audience,” Moon said. “The Overture to ‘Candide,’ written by one of the most world-renowned American composers and conductors, has always been very well-received and is a classic curtain raiser and show starter.”

Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, SFA associate professor of violin and viola, will join the orchestra as guest soloist on the Bruch concerto.

“Dr. Dalmas is a brilliant musician whose virtuosity and musicality is of the top echelon of artists,” Moon said. “Her solo performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in 2008 has remained one of the highlights of my time with the SFA orchestra. I am equally looking forward to her performance of the Bruch. Everyone who has the chance to see her perform live as a concerto soloist should never miss it.”

For the colossal Symphony No. 5 by Tchaikovsky, SFA graduate student Jeff Leung will conduct the orchestra.

“This is one of Jeff’s fondest works – one he knows well and has a very strong interpretation and handle upon,” Moon said. “It is not everyday that one would see a graduate student, let alone a masters level student, take a podium for such a monumental work. However, Jeff continues to prove himself as a leader amongst young conductors, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

In addition to conducting the Bruch concerto, Moon will assume a different role for this concert.

“For the Bernstein and Tchaikovsky pieces, I will be joining the ranks of the first violin section,” he said. “As a conductor for over a decade, I have missed playing in the orchestra and have rekindled an old flame, and I hope this will not be the last of such performances.

“Tchaikovsky is most known for his symphonies and perhaps his violin concerto,” Moon said. “Of the six symphonies, his fifth is probably also the most well-known, especially with its memorable slow movement which features a famous horn solo. Over the past couple years, I have had multiple requests by students to program this work so they may learn and perform it. I’m happy that we will have that opportunity at this concert, and I look forward to playing in it and playing under my student’s baton.”

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 Nelson Rusche College of Business recently implemented the Student Success Passport Program to help students develop their professional skills.

The Passport Program, which launched in early October, aims to help students hone their professional skills while competing for scholarships. Dr. Ann Wilson, interim associate dean for the Rusche College of Business, said the program received a gift that will allow the college to annually award $130,000 in scholarships.

For the 2015-16 year, the Rusche College plans to award $50,000 in competitive scholarships to the top participants in the Passport Program. The top scholar in each classification: freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior, will be awarded $2,500 and 10 runner-ups will be awarded $1,000 per classification, with a total of 44 competitive scholarships being awarded in one year. Furthermore, $80,000 will be used to support program participants in experiential learning and career development activities such as study abroad or student competitions.

“The program encourages students to complete experiences outside the classroom curriculum for personal and professional enrichment,” Wilson said. “The scholarship gives students a tangible incentive.”

This program is designed to provide a formalized strategy for leadership development and career launch. Students will develop a personal portfolio of activities in D2L that will help prepare them to successfully launch their careers after graduation. Students are automatically enrolled in the Passport Program, and can choose if they want to participate.

Dr. Timothy Bisping, dean of the Nelson Rusche College of Business, notes that helping students launch into successful careers is central to the mission of the college.

“The Passport Program aligns perfectly with our mission, and it will serve as the foundation for future career success initiatives in the college,” Bisping said. “We are proud of the exceptional academic programs, faculty and staff members and students in our college, and the Passport Program is a great way to leverage this excellence in order to ensure that our students go on to be successful leaders in their chosen careers.”

The program works on a point system similar to other SFA courses. Program activities are designed to help develop students in personal and professional branding, experiential learning, leadership development, and engage in college activities and events. Assignments include developing a personal mission statement, attending an etiquette presentation, completing an internship and more.

“I start the program with the statement ‘Begin with the end in mind.’ We are trying to get our students to self assess. We want them to know their strengths, choose a major to get ready for a career they will be good at and take classes that will target their career goals,” Wilson said. “This program provides students with experiential learning activities that go above and beyond the classroom.”

The college also will be providing workshops within the Passport Program with faculty and staff members and industry professionals educating students. Wilson said she is coordinating with SFA’s Career Services and Involvement Center to direct students to resources already available at the university.

Currently, there are about 1,200 students involved in the Passport Program.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host “Gifts from the Garden,” a soap-making workshop from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Room 101 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

Participants will create a variety of herbal soaps while learning recipes and techniques used in the art of soap making. Workshop attendees also will leave with samples of their own luxurious soap creations.

“The soap will be made from coconut and palm kernel oil, lye, essential oils and dried herbs,” said Elyce Rodewald, SFA Gardens’ education coordinator. “Participants will learn the step-by-step process of soap making, so they have the skills to make soap at home on their own.

“Once you use the new soap, you’ll never go back to store-bought,” Rodewald added. “The workshop is fun and educational. Participants will be surrounded by wonderful fragrances, like a special gift from the garden!”

Cost is $25 for SFA Gardens members and $30 for non-members. For more information or to register, contact the SFA Gardens’ Education Office at (936) 468-1832 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.