Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics invites the community to attend the fall 2022 Undergraduate Research Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Cole STEM Building in the Barry E. Nelson Atrium on campus.

The showcase will focus on the work of the college’s undergraduate researchers on topics ranging from things found on the Earth to the stars in the galaxy.

“This showcase is an inclusive event that will highlight completed student research and, for the first time, student work in progress,” said Mindy Faulkner, undergraduate research coordinator for the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

“Visitors will have the opportunity to view research conducted by every department in our college and at all scales, from the tiny microfossils that can be found in the rocks underneath our feet, to the sophisticated equipment used to track the stars and planets in our solar system,” she said.

Faculty and staff will be present for anyone who is interested in learning more about getting involved with undergraduate research.

“Participating in undergraduate research is a great way to develop professional skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, time management, collaboration and scientific communication,” Faulkner said. “We look forward to sharing the exceptional research conducted by our students, and inspiring the next cohort of students to get involved in undergraduate research.”

For more information, contact Faulkner at mgshaw@sfasu.edu.

The bands of Stephen F. Austin State University will present their fourth annual “Kaleidoscope’ concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus. The program will feature all three concert bands along with student chamber ensembles in a “kaleidoscope event” with no breaks between performances, according to Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA.

The concert will open with Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands, performing selected movements from Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” The work is inspired by a 13th century anthology of songs and texts written by the goliards, a group of young clergy known for their satirical Latin poetry. John Krance’s wind ensemble arrangement of this work spans a wide gamut of characters: bombastic declamations, a spritely asymmetrical dance and even an “ominous” tavern song.

SFA Saxophone Quartet, including Caleb Allen of Beaver, West Viriniga; Riona Kumazaki of Toyohashi Aichi, Japan; Carter Vernon of North Manchester, Indiana; and Peyton Joffre of Carrollton, will perform a movement from Guillermo Lago’s “Ciudades.” Written in 2011, “Ciudades” (Cities) is a series of musical sketches of cities that have special meaning to Lago. The saxophone quartet will perform the movement ‘Addis Ababa,’ which is the capital of Ethiopia. The work was inspired by Lago’s collaboration with the Ethiopian singer Minyeshu.

Wind Symphony will take the stage under the direction of Dr. Dan Haddad, associate director of bands. The students will perform Donald Grantham’s “Starry Crown,” based on gospel music of the 1920s and ’30s from the Deep South featuring a style sometimes referred to as ‘gutbucket’ gospel because of its raw, earthy and primitive character. Three authentic tunes are used in this work: “Some of These Days,” “Oh Rocks, Don’t Fall on Me!” and “When I Went Down in the Valley.”

The SFA Percussion Ensemble will perform Zachary Cairn’s “Rhythmic Ceremonial Ritual” for seven tambourines. Cairns wanted to compose a piece for a tambourine ensemble in which each player could work on different techniques in a fun, entertaining setting.

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Anglley, will perform the first three movements from Philip Sparke’s “Dance Movements,” all dance-inspired from different cultures, with the second and third movements featuring woodwinds and brass, respectively.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602

Dr. Alexander Russakovsky, professor of cello and chamber music at the University of Southern Mississippi, will present a guest recital at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the Music Recital Hall, Wright Music Building, on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Russakovsky will be joined by colleague Dr. Elizabeth Moak, associate professor of piano, USM, in performing works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. Their program features Bach’s Sonata in G Minor, No. 3, BWV 1029; Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major, Op. 102, No. 1; and Brahms’ Sonata in E minor, Op. 38.

“The program includes some of the greatest works in the German cello repertoire,” Russakovsky said. “Originally written for viola da gamba and cembalo, Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029, was probably composed by J. S. Bach during his time as a cantor at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.”

The most intimate of Beethoven’s cello sonatas, Op. 102, No. 1 was completed in 1815. It contains many features typical of the composer’s late period, including unconventional form, deeply probing emotional content and polyphonic texture, Russakovsky explains.

Brahms’ E minor Sonata, Op. 38 is known for its somber character. “One of the first works that Brahms wrote for a solo instrument and piano, it demonstrates recognizable characteristics of the composer’s style: Romantic expressivity that is firmly grounded in the classical form and contrapuntal techniques,” Russakovsky writes.

Russakovsky joined the music faculty of the University of Southern Mississippi in 2001. He also has served on the faculty of the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival in Bonefro, Italy, and the Violoncello Biennial in Lima, Peru. A founding member of the Jerusalem Academy String Quartet, he has performed with the group throughout Israel and Europe. Most recently, Russakovsky has given master classes and recitals in Taiwan, Israel and Latin America. He holds a master’s degree from Yale University and a doctorate in cello performance from UC Santa Barbara.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.