Everything Nac

The bands of Stephen F. Austin State University will present the annual Concert in the Park at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the wooded area along Vista Drive and in front of the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

All four of the concert bands will perform, including the Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA; the Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Dan Haddad, associate director of bands; Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands; and University Band, directed by graduate student conductors Amanda Bruner of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Miranda de Bruin of Muleshoe.

The SFA Bands will also induct retired Director of Bands Fred J. Allen as an honorary member of the SFA Band Directors Hall of Fame. Allen was director of bands at SFA for 24 years and currently resides in Fort Worth. Along with his induction, Allen will guest conduct the Wind Ensemble on “The Melody Shop March” by Karl King. While at SFA from 1994 to 2018, Allen conducted the Wind Ensmble and taught conducting, orchestration and music education classes. In 2012, he received both the SFA Achievement in Teaching Award and the Texas Bandmasters Association Meritorious Achievement Award. He was named Director of Bands Emeritus of SFA in 2021.

A meeting of the Lumberjack Band Alumni Association will be held in the Band Hall following the concert.

Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, honorary band service fraternity and sorority, will sell hamburger plates beginning at 1 p.m. Plates are $7 each and will include a burger, chips and beverage. SFA and band merchandise will also be available for purchase.

For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Sound Recording Technology groups, the Popular Music Ensemble and Commercial Music Ensemble, will perform concerts starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Both directed by James Taylor, SRT lecturer in the School of Music, the Popular Ensemble will perform “Rocket Man” by Elton John, “Game of Love” by Santana, and “Rolling In the Deep” by Adele; while the Commercial Ensemble will perform “Adore You” by Harry Styles, “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift, and “Break My Heart” by Dua Lipa.

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, visit sfasu.edu/boxoffice or call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The Percussion Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will present its annual spring concert, which will include the world premiere of SFA percussionist Carson Chlup’s “Shattered Hearts,” when the student music group performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, the Percussion Ensemble’s concert will also feature student soloists Micah York, junior music education major from Texarkana, performing on Joe Green’s “Xylophonia,” arranged by Bob Becker; and Riley Selman, sophomore music education major from Frankston, performing on Zequinha de Abreu’s “Tico-Tico no Fubá,” arranged by Micah York.

Chlup, a sophomore from Mansfield, describes “Shattered Hearts” as “the embodiment of broken relationships.” The piece was written for the SFA Percussion Ensemble.

“Whether it be romantic, family or friendships, ‘Shattered Hearts’ takes us through the stages of love, heartbreak and the attempt of moving on,” Chlup states. “This piece is meant to make the listener and player feel something, encouraging them to make this story their own. Everyone’s story is different when it comes to love, and the goal of this piece is to allow all facets of it.”

The revival of interest in the music of George Hamilton Green, brother of Joe Green, can be credited almost completely to the scholarly efforts and xylophone artistry of Bob Becker and the world-famous percussion group NEXUS, according to the program notes. The Percussion Ensemble concert features the arrangement Becker made for NEXUS. The arrangement caught the attention of audiences and percussionists around the world and created a whole new fascination with the xylophone as a solo instrument, the notes explain.

Other works on the program include “Shifty” by Dennis DeSantis; “Stubernic” by Mark Ford; “beFORe JOHN7” by Hollò Aurél and Váczi Zoltán; and “Trio per Uno” by Nebojša Jovan Živković.

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.