Everything Nac

The Percussion Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will present its first fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, director of percussion studies at SFA, the ensemble will perform works by Van Halen, Robert Oetomo, Caleb Pickering, James Campbell and Russell Wharton.

A rock song written by the group Van Halen for their album “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge,” the song “Right Now” reflects on living for the moment and not being afraid of making a change, according to program notes for the concert.

Oetomo’s arrangement of Harold Arlen’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” will feature sophomore, Davis Carr on marimba. Of the piece, Oetomo says it was “created with the intention of having a combination of jazz influences (harmonies and quasi improvisation) and classical romantic influences (runs, ornaments and flourishes), yet maintaining the simplicity of the melody and harmony of the recording.”

The ensemble will perform Pickering’s “21 Grams” and “Powder Keg.” Pickering states “21 Grams” refers to the “hypothesized ‘weight of the human soul’ as described by Dr. Duncan MacDougall in his 1907 medical experiments. MacDougall conducted experiments measuring the weight of his patients before, during and after their deaths. This work is abstractly programmatic in that it follows a general interpretation of seeing what lies beyond our existence on earth, both good and bad.” “Powder Keg” is a high-energy keyboard quartet scored for two vibraphones and two marimbas that is explosive in nature and shifts between rhythmic and harmonic stability and instability throughout, according to the composer.

Campbell’s “Engine Room” refers to the percussion section of a traditional steel band. The engine room plays a crucial accompaniment role in Calypso and Soca, the traditional folk music of Trinidad and Tobago. The composer develops motives out of the rhythmic patterns that are typically used in the engine room, as well as other patterns found within the context of Caribbean music, according to a description at percussionmusiconline.com. This performance showcases sophomore, Alcira Sanchez, on multiple instruments.

Graduate student, Mariah Taller, will be featured on snare drum on Wharton’s “Phylogenesis,” a work for solo percussion using two snare drums and audio. The title refers to the evolutionary history and development of an organism, and the musical development within this piece loosely mirrors that concepts, according to Wharton.

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.

Students interested in learning from and connecting with STEM professionals will have the opportunity at STEM Connect, an event hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the Cole STEM Building, Room 401.

Representatives from Microsoft, Elliott Electric Supply, BPX Energy, Kalkomey Enterprises, NacSpace and CGE will discuss what they do and how students can prepare for their future careers.

“Through panel discussion and one-on-one dialogue, students will learn more about the high-demand careers of tomorrow and the ongoing demand for STEM professionals,” said Dr. Kimberly M. Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

The event will give students a chance to interact with professionals in their field in a unique way, said Dr. Cindy Kalkomey, SFA alumna and co-founder of Kalkomey Enterprises.

“It’s never too early to start forging those relationships ¾ with your fellow STEM students, with your professors and, when possible, with people working in the industry you hope to join,” Kalkomey said.

To learn more about the College of Sciences and Mathematics, visit sfasu.edu/cosm.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work invites the public to attend its 40th celebration Sept. 27 in the School of Social Work Building located on the university’s campus.

The celebration commemorates 40 years of the Bachelor of Social Work program’s accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. The school will hold an open house with guest speakers, student success stories, and food and refreshments.

Dr. Scott Gordon, SFA president, and Dr. Steve Bullard, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will help kick off the celebration at 11 a.m., followed by remarks from Dr. Brian Murphy, dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and Dr. Freddie Avant, director and associate dean of the School of Social Work.

Following their welcome, Dr. Michael Daley, director of the school from 1987 to 2002, will speak. Under Daley’s direction, the East Texas unit of the National Association of Social Workers formed, the Master of Social Work program was created, program numbers increased and the Social Work Building was constructed.

The Distinguished Alumni Symposium will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 203. Dr. Sam Copeland, director of the Bachelor of Social Work program, and Emmerentie Oliphant, director of the Master of Social Work program, will introduce alumni who have unique accomplishments.

The celebration will end with a birthday cake and legacy campaign launch at 1:30 p.m. in Room 201. Attendees also will have the opportunity to sign a birthday card for the school.

Since 1979, SFA has produced valuable social workers who influence their communities in a variety of ways. With partnerships across Texas, including Lone Star College and Tyler Junior College, SFA social workers are engaged in service activities at the local, state, national and internationals levels.

For more information, contact Copeland at scopeland@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-5105.

Playwright Brian Friel’s “Dancing at Lughnasa” will open the fall semester of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre’s student-directed plays.

Directed by Longview senior Bethany Trauger, the full-length play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.

“Dancing at Lughnasa” tells the story of the five unmarried Mundy sisters who live in a small cottage in Ireland. The action of the play is told through the memory of the illegitimate son of one of the sisters as he remembers the events that finally broke his family apart: the return of his missionary uncle from Uganda, the small radio that turns the house on its head with its music, and the sudden appearance of his father, a charming Welsh man who sweeps his mother off her feet. These small occurrences cause the cracks that destroy the foundation of the family.

The cast includes Kingwood freshman Blayn Larson as Michael: Palestine senior Corie Mason as Kate; Nacogdoches junior Shyla Driver as Maggie; Edinburg sophomore Makayla Moreno as Agnes; Spring junior Johana Lenington as Rose; Winnsboro sophomore Sarah Anne Ramsey as Chris; Kerrville senior Richard Rogers as Gerry; and Houston senior Matthew Kilgore as Jack.

The production staff includes Yanelly Vargas, Dallas junior, stage manager; Holden Guinn, Tyler senior, assistant director; Carson Cook, McKinney sophomore, scenic designer; Erinn St. Clair, Bastrop sophomore, costume designer; Mando Chavez, Corpus Christi junior; lighting designer; Myah Mallory, Victoria sophomore, sound designer; Kaitlyn McDearmont, Sulphur Springs junior, properties master; and Brendan Ryan, Cedar Park freshman, assistant properties master.

Trauger has previously directed “Hanging On” and “Postponing the Heat Death of the Universe,” and she was assistant director for “Three One-Act Plays by Asian Authors.” She has also worked as dramaturg for “Oklahoma!” and “Three One-Act Plays by Asian Authors.”

Faculty production advisor is Dr. Slade Billew.

Tickets are $6. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu. The Downstage Theatre is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium studies in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, will open SFA’s 2019 Octubafest Celebration with a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Cole Concert Hall on the university campus.

Octubafest is a worldwide event celebrated by tuba and euphonium performers at universities around the world during the month of October, according to Salas. The observance is meant to showcase the versatility of the tuba and euphonium, instruments that primarily play a background part in many ensembles.

“This will be the 14th Octubafest at SFA since my arrival here and will feature several performances by the SFA Tuba-Euphonium Studio throughout the month,” Salas said.

Salas will collaborate with Dr. Thomas Nixon, SFA collaborative pianist, on the recital. Among the works to be showcased are “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla.

“This well-known work by the master of the tango has been performed by several instruments,” Salas said, “but it works well to showcase the technical capability of the tuba as well as its beautiful voice-like quality in the upper register.”

The recital will also feature “Ten Blind Dates for Solo Tuba” by James Grant. The piece is the result of a consortium commissioning project involving Salas. “It is a ‘character piece’ illustrating the various emotions and experiences of a blind date,” he explained.

“Landscape for Tuba” by Torbjorn Lundquist is large-scale work originally written for tuba and strings. “This version for tuba and piano runs the gamut of the tuba’s depth of character with beautiful lyrical sections contrasted with powerful interjections,” according to Salas.

The recital is part of the School of Music’s Friends of Music Concert Series. 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.

Faculty members of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will be the featured performers during the annual Pi Kappa Lambda Music Faculty Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The concert showcases the talents of the diverse School of Music performing faculty, according to Dr. Jamie Weaver, associate professor of music history at SFA and president of Pi Kappa Lambda honors society. Proceeds from the concert fund scholarships for deserving SFA music majors selected by the honors society.

“I encourage everyone who loves music, who would like to learn more about music, or who is curious about music at SFA to attend this year’s Pi Kappa Lambda Faculty Showcase,” Weaver said. “Sponsored by the university music honors society, the concert features a wide variety of instruments, voices and musical styles in brief, audience-friendly performances.

“Faculty members look forward to this concert every year because we have the chance to perform for each other as well as for our students and friends,” she added.

This year’s program will again feature a performance by the SFA Faculty Brass Quintet, which features Deb Scott, trombone; Jake Walburn and Gary Wurtz, trumpet; Charles Gavin, horn; and JD Salas, tuba.

Other faculty performers will be Christopher Ayer, clarinet; Debbie Berry, Nita Hudson, Richard Berry, Scott LaGraff, voice, with guest artist Kimberly LaGraff; Christina Guenther and Samantha Inman, flute; Abby Yeakle Held, oboe; Nathan Nabb, saxophone; and Mario Ajero, Mary Cooper, Thomas Nixon, Hyun Ji Oh and Ron Petti, piano.

The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music and is a feature of the 2019-20 Friends of Music Concert Series. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building at 2210 Alumni Drive.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.