Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Ensemble will present its final concert of the spring semester in a performance of David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4. The concert will be a livestreamed event performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, and accessible at music.sfasu.edu.

Composed in 1993, Symphony No. 4 was commissioned by a consortium of universities including the University of Texas, Michigan State University and SFA, according to Dr. David Campo, director of bands at SFA and of the Wind Ensemble.

In describing the work, Maslanka said the driving force behind Symphony No. 4 was” the spontaneous rise of the impulse to shout for the joy of life.”

“I feel it is the powerful voice of the earth that comes to me from my adopted western Montana and the high plains and mountains of central Idaho,” he said. “My personal experience of the voice is one of being helpless and torn open by the power of the thing that wants to be expressed – the welling-up shout that cannot be denied. I am set aquiver and am forced to shout and sing. The response in the voice of the Earth is the answering shout of thanksgiving and the shout of praise.”

The hymn tune “Old Hundred,” several other hymn tunes, including the Bach chorales “Only Trust in God to Guide You” and “Christ Who Makes Us Holy,” and original melodies that are hymn-like in nature, form the backbone of Symphony No. 4.

“I have used Christian symbols because they are my cultural heritage, but I have tried to move through them to a depth of universal humanness, to an awareness that is not defined by religious label,” Maslanka further explained. “My impulse through this music is to speak to the fundamental human issues of transformation and re-birth in this chaotic time.”

Campo said performing Symphony No. 4 is especially relevant today, “as we emerge from a year that will be remembered as one of the darkest in American history, if not the history of the world.”

“To take the opportunity to ‘shout for the joy of life’ and ‘speak to the fundamental human issue of transformation and re-birth in this chaotic time’ seems both timely and appropriate,” he said.

To access the live virtual concert free of charge, visit music.sfasu.edu the night of the performance. For additional information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre’s presentation of the student-directed one-act play “Last Chance,” originally scheduled for Feb. 19 and 20 but postponed because of the winter storm, will now take place April 16 and 17.

Johana Lenington, senior theatre education major from Houston, directs “Last Chance,” written by SFA School of Theatre senior lecturer Jackie Rosenfeld. The play revolves around the lives of a young married couple and issues that develop as a result of alcohol addiction.

The cast includes Terrell junior Ryleigh Compton as Shannon; Midland freshman Zachary Jebsen as Ray; and Little Elm freshman Mariano Aguirre as Dough.

Stage manager is Valeria De La Cruz, Zacatecas, Mexico, senior; scenic designer is Julianna Flores, Pasadena senior; costume designer is Zach White, Buffalo senior; lighting designer is Cynthia Tovar, Southeast Houston junior; sound designer is Salvador Nunez, Plant City, Florida, sophomore; and properties master is Jenna Alley, Kingwood senior.

Transferring to SFA in fall 2019, Lenington has portrayed characters Rose in “Dancing at Lughnasa,” Chloe in “The Curse of Plenty,” Miranda in “The Tempest,” and Mrs. Martin in “The Bald Soprano.” She made her directing debut last fall with “A Perfect Match” by Stariana Johnson. Lenington stated she is “thrilled to have the opportunity to direct ‘Last Chance’ by Jackie Rosenfeld, and I am excited for more directing opportunities in the future.”

Among other plays written by Rosenfeld are “Corner Lot,” “keepingabreast,” “Queen of the Mist” and “Performing Politics.” She is currently working on a play titled “Rodeo Rose.”

The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 16, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in Regents Suite A in the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus. The show will also be livestreamed.

Tickets are $4. Seating is limited, and face coverings are required. Social distancing protocols will be observed. To purchase tickets or virtual access, visit the SFA Fine Arts Box Office online at boxoffice.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407.

The Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will present their “Swingin’ At The Brewery’ fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 16, at Fredonia Brewery in downtown Nacogdoches.

Admission to the outdoor concert is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the SFA School of Music’s jazz program, according to Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone and director of the Swingin’ Axes.

“When we scheduled our fall concert downtown on the square, we were not sure how well-received it would be,” Scott said. “But we were pleasantly surprised that it sold out. We heard from the community how nice it was to have an outdoor concert, so we wanted to do it again. We have performed once before at the Fredonia Brewery, and we are very grateful to them for hosting us once more. We are not reserving seats this time, so it will be first come, first served.”

In memoriam to the late jazz great Sammy Nestico, the Swingin’ Axes will perform Nestico’s “Tribute to Woody,” “Blues Machine” and “Beautiful Friendship.” The Axes will also perform Steve Owen’s “Goombay Smash” as performed by the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note. Scott will provide vocals on SFA’s own Mike McGowan’s “Mean to Me.” McGowan is adjunct instructor of music theory and jazz studies at SFA.

The Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas, will perform jazz standards “Splanky” by Neal Hefti and Nestico’s arrangement of “Alright, Okay, You Win.” The Aces will also perform Bob Mintzer’s “Computer” and Mark Taylor’s arraignment of “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins.

The concert will also feature a performance by the SFA Jazz Doctors, which is a combo group comprised of SFA jazz faculty, including Scott on trombone, Salas on upright bass, McGowan on piano, Larry Greer on guitar, and Jake Walburn and Gary Wurtz on trumpets.

Shali’s Indian Kitchen on Wheels will be on site, and the brewery’s Rebellion Pizza will be open. SFA Jazz T-shirts and other merchandise will be available for purchase.

Social distancing and face masks are encouraged. The Fredonia Brewery is located at 138 N. Mound St. For additional information, call the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602 or the brewery at (936) 305-5125.