Everything Nac

Clarinetist Frank Kowalsky, professor emeritus at Florida State University, will perform a guest recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Kowalsky will collaborate with several SFA music faculty members, all of whom are graduates of Florida State University, according to Dr. Christopher Ayer, professor of clarinet in the SFA School of Music.

Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, violin and viola, Dr. Evegeni Rachev, cello, and Dr. Ron Petti, piano, were all doctoral students at FSU while Kowalsky was professor of clarinet there. Rachev’s cello teacher at FSU was Lubomir Georgiev, who wrote Dialogues I for cello and piano. Rachev will perform it with Kowalsky that evening.

“So, it’s a special treat for all of them to collaborate together on this concert,” Ayer said.

Among the other selections on the program are “Peregi Verbunk” by Leo Weiner; Suite for Clarinet, Violin and Piano and “Scaramouche” by Darius Milhaud; and Sonata by Carlos Guastavino.

Kowalsky has performed as principal clarinetist with several orchestras throughout the United States. His introduction of Scott McAllister’s “X—Concerto for Clarinet” to the clarinet community in 1998 led to the commissioning of McAllister’s concerto, “Black Dog,” which he premiered at Florida State University in 2003. A member of the faculty at the Interlochen Arts Academy for 10 years, Kowalsky joined the faculty at Florida State University in 1984 and retired in 2013. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music and the Catholic University of America.

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

Spectrum Ensemble will bring a program of original percussion duo works to Nacogdoches when founders Jaime Esposito and Stephen Hall perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Wright Music Building’s Band Hall, Room 121, on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Spectrum Ensemble is a new music group based in Denton advocating for LGBTQ+ representation in Classical music by performing concerts of new music written by top young queer composers and performed by queer/ally musicians. Additionally, proceeds from concerts are donated to LGBTQA+ advocacy non-profits/charities.

Touring throughout the South this fall, Spectrum Ensemble will present “A New Light,” which features works written by queer composers Kevin Rosacia, Luke Ellard, Derek Twyonick, and LJ White, alongside classics by Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber.

“In our concerts, we present the often-ignored lineage of influential queer musicians in Classical music throughout history until the present day,” Esposito said.

New contemporary music works by top queer composers are juxtaposed in the performance with works of famous composers throughout history, like Bernstein, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Aaron Copland.

“In this way, we present wonderfully engaging musical programs while exemplifying LGBTQ+ visibility,” Esposito said.

To learn more about the ensemble and the players:

Website: Spectrumensemble.org

Instagram: @spectrumensemble

Facebook: @Queerspectrumensemble

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDb0xvK7jk9AUbJtaaIyOYw/videos

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.