Everything Nac

The SFA Symphony Orchestra will perform works of German Romantic composers in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The headlining piece on the program is Symphony No. 4 by Robert Schumann.

Conducted by Dr. Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities for the SFA School of Music, the student ensemble will also perform “Oberon Overture” by Carl Maria von Weber and Trombone Concerto by Danish composer and conductor Launy Grondahl. The concerto performance will feature Duncanville sophomore Kahlil Burley-Wyatt, student concerto competition winner.

Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.

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.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stone Fort Museum has named the late Dr. James E. Corbin and Dr. Tom Middlebrook as the 2019 Cum Concilio Club Heritage Preservation Award recipients.

“Drs. Corbin and Middlebrook were separately identified as strong candidates, and the connections between the two — Corbin, a professional archeologist, and Middlebrook, an avocational archeologist, influenced early on by Corbin — led the committee to recognize both,” said Carolyn Spears, director of the Stone Fort Museum. “The co-award provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of archeology and avocational archeology in preserving Eastern Texas history.”

The award recognizes Corbin for his lifetime contributions to our understanding of the history of Nacogdoches County and his landmark research on the el Camino Real de los Tejas. Former SFA professor of anthropology and Regents Professor from 1999-2000, Corbin’s interest in Spanish and Native American pathways through Eastern Texas led to the identification, and ultimately the preservation, of significant portions of the el Camino Real de los Tejas. Corbin also served as director of the Stone Fort Museum from 1979 to 2004.

In 1996, Corbin’s research was translated into the exhibit “Traversing the Wilderness: el Camino Real de los Tejas in Eastern Texas” at the Stone Fort Museum, which garnered national and state awards for excellence in interpretation.

Corbin was named a fellow of the Texas Archeological Society in 1994 and was posthumously awarded the Curtis D. Tunnell Lifetime Achievement Award in Archeology by the Texas Historical Commission, the highest archeological honor awarded by the commission.

Corbin died Nov. 26, 2004. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he made lasting contributions to the understanding of Texas history. He also trained many students who advanced to careers in archeology.

The Stone Fort Museum also recognizes Middlebrook with its Heritage Preservation Award for his work in preserving the archeological record of Eastern Texas and for promoting an understanding of our shared cultural heritage through avocational archaeology.

Middlebrook has founded, supported and led the East Texas Archeological Society, the Nacogdoches County Historical Association and the Nacogdoches County Historical Commission. He has helped search for Native American and European archeological sites, and completed excavations at Caddo Indian and Spanish colonial sites in downtown Nacogdoches. Middlebrook has contributed to numerous reports and publications, both in local and statewide journals.

He has contributed significant work to identifying and securing the Bernardo D’Ortolon Rancho and Raphael D’Ortolon sites. His dedication to avocational archeology and education provided access to primary materials critical to illuminating the African-American experience in Nacogdoches County.

Middlebrook has received numerous awards and honors, including being named the 2005 fellow of the Texas Archeological Society. In 2015, he was the sixth Texan to receive the Society of American Archeology’s Crabtree Award, which recognizes outstanding avocational archeologists.

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University. Photo of Dr. Tom Middlebrook courtesy of The Daily Sentinel.

The annual Vintage Christmas Display opens Tuesday, Dec.3, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

This display has become a holiday tradition for Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown art gallery, according to John Handley, director of SFA galleries.

“Featuring antique and vintage holiday ornaments, dolls and toys, this display offers a glimpse into Christmas past and provides a perfect treat for the family during the holidays,” Handley said.

Handley will discuss the Christmas exhibition, as well as a toy books display that is part of the exhibition “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries,” in a gallery talk at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the art center.

The Vintage Christmas Display runs through Jan. 3. The “Picturing Books” exhibition runs through Jan. 5.

Art exhibitions and receptions are hosted by the SFA School of Art and sponsored by the Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum, William Arscott and The Flower Shop. Admission is free.

Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Ring in the holiday season with Stephen F. Austin State University as the College of Fine Arts presents not one but two stage versions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The first event is a musical extravaganza for the entire family, and the second is especially geared toward sharing the holiday classic with younger audiences.

Gather the family and celebrate the spirit of Christmas in spectacular fashion with PerSeverance Productions’ presentation of the holiday tale in a University Series performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

“This production not only features top-flight professional performances, costumes and effects,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of the University Series, “it also incorporates dozens of actual Christmas carols! Everyone that attends will leave brimming with holiday cheer.”

Based upon Dickens’ famous classic, “A Christmas Carol” is a heartwarming story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from a greedy, heartless miser to a generous, loving friend to everyone. Three ghostly visits – from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future – leave an indelible impression on Scrooge. Filled with kindness and the true spirit of the Christmas season, Scrooge changes his selfish ways and opens his heart to those around him.

“With all the splendor, magic and joy of the holiday season, this fabulous gift of a show overflows with 26 beloved yuletide songs and warm good humor,” Shattuck said.

Prior to the show, Dr. Steven J. Marsden, professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, will present an informative talk about Dickens and “A Christmas Carol” at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is inside the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive. The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to honor the show’s corporate sponsor, Nacogdoches Medical Center.

Single event ticket prices for the University Series are $30 for adults, $24 for seniors and $12 for non-SFA students/youth. Tickets for SFA students are $3.

The Children’s Performing Arts Series at SFA will present two performances of Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” on Thursday, Dec. 12, in Turner Auditorium. This version targets children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

“Students will delight in this classic tale of Scrooge, the ghosts, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim,” Peterson said. “Virginia Repertory Theatre brings all the characters to life on stage in this lively and heartwarming musical performance that brings all the joy, sentiment and meaning of Dickens’ story without being too scary for young audiences.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a garden seminar, “Deck the Halls: Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays,” from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 7 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.

Evergreen branches and garlands once served as symbols of enduring life and a fruitful year to come. Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate, will teach participants how to create elegant wreaths and garlands using these and other materials from the garden.

The principles of wreath, garland and centerpiece construction will be discussed, and seminar-goers will make a wreath to take home for the holidays.

In addition to the traditional wreaths and garlands, Stover will introduce new crafts using natural items from the garden and forest. All materials will be provided.

The cost is $30 for SFA Garden members and $40 for nonmembers. Class size is limited. To register in advance, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

The Steel Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will present its fall concert at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Ben Tomlinson, adjunct professor of percussion in the School of Music, the student ensemble will perform a number of traditional calypso selections from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and additional tunes from around the world.

Among the works on the program is “Chunk,” a funk tune composed by Oklahoma City-based composer Jamie Wind Whitmarsh. This rendition will include an extended percussion solo to feature the band’s “Engine Room,” which includes drumset and a percussionist playing hand drums and other auxiliary percussion within the Steel Band.

“‘Chunk’ is an upbeat tune with colorful harmonies and rhythms that really challenge the ensemble’s timing and ability to fit in the pocket,” Tomlinson said.

Also on the program is Ray Holman’s “Pan in My System,” which Tomlinson describes as fast and upbeat and “a challenging soca chart that is sure to be a crowd favorite.”

The Steel Band will perform “The Peanut Vendor” by Moisés Simons. The tune has been recorded more than 160 times and has been included in the United States Recording Registry by the National Recording Preservation Board.

“Arranged by ensemble member Ethan Ainsworth, ‘The Peanut Vendor’ is arguably one of the most famous pieces of music to come out of Cuba,” Tomlinson said. “Released in the 1930s, this tune was responsible for ‘rhumbamania’ in the United States, introducing U.S. listeners to Cuban music.” Ainsworth is a senior music major from Hallsville.

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.