Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs is hosting Noche de Gala, an annual Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Baker Pattillo Student Center Plaza. The event honors the Latinx and Hispanic cultures through educational activities, performances, cultural cuisines and music.

“We invite students, staff, faculty and community to come learn, network and join us in the celebration,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director.

This event is free. For more information, contact the OMA at (936) 468-1073 or http://www.sfasu.edu/oma.

By Richard Massey, Senior Marketing Communications Specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University

The Symphony Orchestra at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform works by Arturo Marquez, Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari and Aaron Copland on its first concert of the fall semester at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Conducted by Dr. Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities for the SFA School of Music, the concert will begin with Mexican composer Marquez’s “Danzon No. 2,” which Grabowski describes as “a wonderful piece inspired by Latin rhythms and harmonies that’s both fun for the orchestra to perform and for the audience to hear.”

A performance of Wolf-Ferrari’s Suite Concertino for Bassoon will feature Dr. Margaret Fay, bassoon professor at SFA. “The School of Music has so many talented artist teachers,” Grabowski said. “The SFASO is an excellent opportunity to feature our faculty, and I’m excited to be working with Dr. Fay, both in the School of Music as teachers and on the stage as performing musicians.”

Copland’s “Billy the Kid” will serve as the centerpiece in the program.

“Aaron Copland is one of the most well-known and respected American composers of the 20th century,” Grabowski said. “His music is the reason I ever went into conducting, and I’m so excited to share this wonderful piece of music with the orchestra and the community. ‘Billy the Kid’ is full of power and beauty, of humor and seriousness.”

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.