Everything Nac

The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will host a holiday open house from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Music Prep House located at 3028 Raguet St.

The event will serve as a scholarship fundraiser and will feature a silent auction, according to Pat Barnett, Music Prep division director. Among the silent auction items are musical instruments, such as a full size cello and three violins, along with a Moeck Flauto Dolce Rottenburgh alto recorder, a Moeck tenor recorder, a Schrieber tenor and two Kung soprano recorders, music books, bells for bell choir, and more.

“Because our tuition was raised, students and families are finding it to be more difficult to afford the study of music,” Barnett said. “Our hope is to provide financial assistance to those who seek to study music.”

Twenty-one students are currently benefiting from scholarships awarded this past August, she said.

Bricks are still available for purchase in the “Pathway to Music” at the Prep House. Bricks are being sold for $100 on the pathway, $200 on the porch steps and $500 for corporate donors. The corporate donors will have two bricks engraved with words of support for the Music Preparatory Division’s scholarship fundraiser.

“Buying a brick for someone makes a great Christmas gift, because you are giving the gift of music,” Barnett said.

Those who want to purchase a brick are encouraged to download a “Pathway to Music” order form available on the Music Prep website at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. For more information, call (936) 468-1291 or email musicprep@sfasu.edu.

Prep students will showcase their musical talents by providing entertainment during the open house, and refreshments will be served.

Music Prep offers musical training on any level of proficiency. Overall musicianship is stressed in addition to the study of an instrument. Private music lessons are offered in piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, classical guitar, voice, percussion, French horn, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, composition, euphonium and flute. Also, Music Prep offers an orchestra – Piney Woods Youth Orchestra – as well as the SFA Children’s Chorus, the Piney Woods Chorale, an adult piano class, Music Theory Adventures classes and Kindermusik. Music Prep teaches all ages, from infants to 80 and beyond. Music therapy is also offered.

Registrations for spring 2015 are being accepted now. Forms are available on the Music Prep website.

Students in a Field Experiences in Human Sciences class at Stephen F. Austin State University recently planned the execution, marketing and culinary aspects of a formal tea at the Juanita Curry Boynton House. They worked with University Marketing Communications to develop an invitation, planned the menu and produced the entire event. They also spent time researching tea traditions. Pictured enjoying the event are, from left, Dr. Janice Pattillo, Dr. Lisa Mize and Leisha Bridwell. Harpist De Luna Mateo is shown in the background. Now in its 21st year, the Hospitality Administration Program at SFA is poised to attract students, enhance university visibility and prepare future professionals to compete in the 21st century. With approximately 200 majors, the program features hands-on experiential learning and an industry-driven curriculum to prepare students for careers in meeting and event planning, tourism, restaurant management, lodging, and culinary arts.

Albany Records has recently released “A Harp for Christmas, Vol. II,” the newest CD of Emily Mitchell, harp instructor in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music.

The holiday CD features 21 carols arranged for solo harp by American flutist and composer Gary Schocker. Among the works are “‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” “Coventry Carol,” “Sleep of the Infant Jesus,” “Il est né, le dvin Enfant,” “Wexford Carol,” “Tuscendi dalle stelle,” “A la nanita nana,” “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Carol of the Birds.” The CD can be ordered through Amazon.com.

An acknowledged concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, Mitchell has performed around the globe, including in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Brazil, Israel and Canada. She has toured 48 states of the United States under the auspices of Community Concerts for Columbia Artists Management. Mitchell has been profiled on “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,” CNN, CNBC, Arts & Entertainment, the BBC, DRS-Swiss TV, the New York Times’ WQXR, Radio France, National Public Radio’s “Performance Today” and in People Magazine.

For 10 years, Mitchell was principal harpist for the Eos Orchestra in New York City. She also performed with the New York City Ballet and American Symphony Orchestras as well as the Broadway orchestras of “42nd Street,” “The Producers,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Light in the Piazza” and “Wicked.”

She has been on the faculty of New York University and Purchase College and State University of New York, and she has taught master classes at the Royal College of Music in London, Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School and Madrid Conservatory.

Schocker is best -known as the most-published composer for the flute, with more than 200 works in print, primarily with Theodore Presser. He is a world-renowned flutist himself, and studied both flute and piano first with his father and later at the Juilliard School in New York City where he currently lives.

Vol. I of the duo’s holiday collection includes such Christmas standards as “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” “What Child is This?” and “Deck the Halls.” It also includes “Still, Still, Still,” “Infant So Gentle” and “Cind Isus sa Nascut.”