The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will celebrate 40 years of service to the Nacogdoches area with an all-day outdoor music festival Saturday, May 1, on the Music Prep House grounds at 3028 Raguet St. The event will include student performances, including a performance by the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra (pictured), exhibition booths and food vendors.
The outdoor event will feature the talents of Music Prep’s outstanding student musicians and give local merchants the opportunity to showcase their businesses while showing support for the School of Music’s outreach program, according to Alba Madrid, Music Prep director and program instructor.
“This family-friendly outdoor music festival is the perfect way to end our school year, and it is a fitting tribute to 40 years of making music,” Madrid said. “This music festival will be a socially distanced event allowing music lovers to enjoy exceptional music, exhibition booths, food vendors and the great outdoors.”
Since 1980, the Music Prep faculty has worked to create a fun and rewarding environment for children and adults of Nacogdoches County and surrounding communities to pursue their musical endeavors, Madrid explained. The program’s mission is to provide an accessible and inclusive community center for music education that fosters the creative growth of individuals, inspires passion and creativity, and promotes excellence and well-being in the Nacogdoches area.
“Throughout the years, the Music Preparatory Division has had many apprentices who went on to enjoy successful music careers,” Madrid said. “With this music festival, we will celebrate the accomplishments of our current students by sharing their performances with the community. Our program will begin with our youngest artists in Kindermusik and Suzuki programs. Students taking private lessons will be featured in solo performances in various instruments. We will close with a compelling performance by the Piney Woods Youth Symphony Orchestra.”
Local merchants can be a part of the celebration by showcasing their businesses at booth spaces that will line the grounds of the Music Prep Building and/or by donating door prizes to be given away during the festival. Event sponsorships are also available, and local food trucks will be onsite.
“This will be our first live performances post-COVID, and we want the entire community to be involved,” Madrid said. “Your participation and sponsorships will help to fund future projects and support our students through scholarships.”
The event is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 1. Deadline to register for event booth space is April 1. For more information about sponsorships, or to register for a booth, contact Madrid at (936) 468-1291 or musicprep@sfasu.edu. For more information about Music Prep, visit sfamusicprep.com.
