Everything Nac

Two members of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music faculty will be soloists in the end-of-semester Choral Masterworks Concert to be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Under the direction of Dr. Tim King, director of choral studies at SFA, the A Cappella Choir, Choral Union, Women’s Choir and the Orchestra of the Pines will perform “Ein Deutsches Requiem” (A German Requiem) by Johannes Brahms as part of the SFA College of Fine Arts’ University Series. Guest soloists will be Debbie Berry, soprano, and Chris Turner, baritone.

Berry is a native of Wichita Falls. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in voice performance from SFA. After teaching at Wayland University, she moved to Kansas City where she did post-graduate work at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Following her study in Kansas City, she spent five years in Denver, performing and teaching. She returned to Nacogdoches from San Antonio where she was a private voice instructor at John Marshall High School. She teaches studio voice at SFA. Her performance credits include solo performances with the Kansas City Philharmonic, the Civic Orchestra of Kansas City, the Longview Opera Company, the Central City Singers (of the Central City Opera House Association), and regular appearances as a recitalist in Denver, Kansas City, and in various regions of Texas. She has performed extensively in musical comedy, with more than a 20 roles in productions of Nacogdoches’ Lamp-Lite Theatre.

Turner is a native of Pascagoula, Miss., where he began singing at the age of 5. Having studied at Mississippi College, Louisiana State University and the Eastman School of Music, he is an experienced and award-winning vocalist. His performance experience is in a wide variety of genres from opera and oratorio to contemporary settings. Turner is a recipient of the Governor’s Award and a five-time state and regional award winner with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Among other honors, he was finalist in the Lois Alba Opera Aria Competition and finalist in the Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition. Turner is an assistant professor of voice at SFA.

Although the work will be sung in German, surtitles will be provided.

Prior to the performance, King will give a 7 p.m. informative talk in Griffith Gallery located across the hall from Turner Auditorium.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $7.50 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 the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will continue to present their spring recitals through May 22.

“The students have worked hard this semester in order to bring their gift of music to parents, families and friends,” said Pat Barnett, division director.

Piano students of Mary Cooper will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, in Cole Concert Hall.

Violin students of Brenda Josephsen will perform at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Music Recital Hall.

On Saturday, May 16, piano students of Linda Parr perform at 2 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall, and piano students of Theresa Moon perform at 2 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

Josephsen’s violin students will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the Music Recital Hall.

The Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Evgeni Raychev, will perform with guests at 7 p.m. Monday, May 18, in Cole Concert Hall.

On Thursday, May 21, violin students of Dr. Jennifer Dalmas and cello students of Raychev will perform at 7 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

Spring performances will conclude with recitals for Parr’s senior students at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, in Cole Concert Hall.

Admission to all recitals is free.

Registrations for summer classes are being accepted. Forms are available online at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. For more information about the SFA Music Preparatory Division, contact Barnett at (936) 468-1291.