The Music Preparatory Division at Stephen F. Austin State University will host new student registration and ensemble auditions Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Music Prep House, 3028 Raguet St.
The program, which is a division of the SFA School of Music, will mark 35 years in 2015 of offering musical instruction and training to East Texas children and youth, according to Pat Barnett, Music Prep director.
“Come be a part of Music Prep and help us celebrate 35 years of existence in 2015,” she said.
Scholarship applications for fall classes are still being accepted, and applications can be accessed on the website at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep.
New student registration is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16, and teachers will be present to advise students and parents on private lesson opportunities and group activities, Barnett said. Private 16-week lessons begin Monday, Aug. 18, and private 12-week lessons with SFA student instructors begin Monday, Sept. 8.
Auditions for the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra also will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on Aug. 16. The orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Evgeni Raychev, and he encourages everyone to audition for the 2014-2015 season, Barnett said. An audition application is available on the Music Prep website under the PWYO area.
String players should be prepared to play a piece from the Suzuki Book III or higher or any other piece with a similar level of difficulty. For players other than strings, the requirement is a solo piece representing the student’s technical and musical abilities. Students who wish to join the orchestra but are unable to attend the audition should contact Raychev at racheve@sfasu.edu. The PWYO will meet from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays beginning Aug. 25 in Room 170 of the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building on campus.
The SFA Children’s Chorus has also returned for the fall, and auditions will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. that day. The chorus is for students in grades three through 12 and will meet at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Aug. 26 in Room 125 of the Wright Music Building. For information, contact director Nicole Stewart at (214) 236-6844.
For more information, contact Barnett at pbarnett@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-1291.
