Everything Nac

    A faculty tuba recital on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and a guest euphonium recital on Thursday, Oct. 6, mark the beginning of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music’s month-long Octubafest.

J.D. Salas, SFA assistant professor of tuba, will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, in Cole Concert Hall.

    “Each year, universities across the United States participate in this national event in which tuba and euphonium players present recitals and ensemble concerts,” explained Dr. J.D. Salas, SFA assistant professor of tuba.

    “The performances serve to educate the audiences about these instruments that are not often known for their beautiful singing melodies and virtuosic technical lines,” Salas continued. “SFA will have five such performances this month.”

    For his own faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, in Cole Concert Hall, Salas has chosen a program that “will reveal the full dynamic and technical capabilities of the tuba in both a solo and chamber music setting.”

    Pianist James Pitts, SFA staff accompanist, will collaborate with Salas in presenting Leonard Bernstein’s “Waltz for Mippy III,” a short work named for a mongrel dog that belonged to Bernstein’s brother, and SFA professor Charles Gavin will join the duo in performing “Divertimento for Tuba, Horn, and Piano” by Trygve Madsen.

    Salas and Scott Harris, SFA associate professor of percussion, will play Michael Harwood’s “Residue for Tuba and Vibraphone,” a piece which requires Harris to alter the vibraphone by adding coins or other metal objects to the keys.

    A member of the SFA faculty since 2006, Salas recently received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he also earned his master’s degree. The native of Alamo, Texas, received his bachelor degree from Baylor University.

    Salas has performed regularly with the Louisville Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a member of the SFA Brass Quintet.

    Travis Scott, euphonium teacher for the Coppell Independent School District and Lewisville High School, and pianist Richard Shirey will present a guest euphonium recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in Cole Concert Hall.

    The program will include the world premiere of Paul Ferguson’s “Some Re-assembly Required,” Barbara York’s “Sonata for Euphonium (Child’s Play),” and Antonio Capuzzi’s “Concerto for Double Bass.”

    In addition to his teaching duties, Scott is a member of the Blossom Festival Band, serves as a substitute with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and directs the North Texas Euphonium Company. The Ohio native earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron and his master’s degree from the University of North Texas.

    “Mr. Scott’s performance is highly relevant for our SFA students since he is an active educator who has maintained a high level of performance on top of his teaching duties,” Salas said.

    Both recitals are a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music and part of the Cole Performing Arts Series. Tickets for each are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please go to www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

    Other SFA Octubafest events are a studio recital at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20; a studio recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25; and “Tubaween” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. All events are in Cole Concert Hall.

    The StephenF.AustinStateUniversity health science program is partnering with the Healthy Nacogdoches Coalition for a service-learning project called “ALL Jacks Walk/Bike to School Day.”

    This project is designed to encourage SFA students, faculty and staff to walk or ride their bicycles to school on Wednesday, Oct. 5, to promote physical activity in the community.

    Dr. DawnElla Rust, SFA professor and health science program coordinator, is using the project to engage students in her environmental health class and identify the components of healthy communities. The project is based on figures that show mortality rates due to chronic diseases in Nacogdoches are significantly higher than the state average.

    Health science students at SFA will have the opportunity to conduct research about the walkability and bikeability of the university community as a part of their class with Rust. The research will coincide with International Walk to School Day, which is an event started by the Partnership for a Walkable America.

    “I have always loved service learning because it is about connecting concepts and principles with real-life experiences,” Rust said.

    Students and faculty and staff members who register and participate in the walk/bike day will have their names included in a drawing for door prizes such as water bottles and wrist ID sports bracelets. Registration is available on the Healthy Nacogdoches website at www.healthynacogoches.org.

    For more information, contact Rust at (936) 468-1495.

    Relay For Life of Nacogdoches County will hold a tailgate-themed kick off party to officially begin its annual campaign to raise funds for cancer research from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Nacogdoches Recreation Center.

    This year’s Relay For Life is sports themed, encouraging participants to “Team up against cancer!” The kick off party will provide information on how to create a Relay For Life team, how to honor loved ones by purchasing luminarias and how the American Cancer Society is working to fight cancer.

    “Our committee is so excited to kick off Relay For Life for the 2011-12 season and we’re looking forward to bringing more teams onboard,” said Derek Head, co-chair of the event.

    “We have plenty of fun things planned for the whole family, including a bigger and better chili cook-off, live entertainment and more ways to show support for those fighting cancer.”

    This year’s Relay For Life event is slated for Friday, March 30, 2012, through Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Nacogdoches Expo Center. Anyone interested in creating or joining a team may call (936) 468-4611 or e-mail nacrelay@yahoo.com. For more information or to register online, visit www.relayforlife.org/nacogdochescotx.