Everything Nac

The Rockin’ Axes at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a rock concert at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Kennedy Auditorium on the SFA campus.

The Rockin’ Axes is directed by Nick Lambson, a Sound Recording Technology faculty member within the School of Music. One of three SRT performance groups, the Rockin’ Axes will perform “YYZ” by Rush, “Schism” by Tool, “Part III” by Crumb and “Frankenstein” by Edgar Winter, among other rock favorites.

The SRT program added a new, third ensemble this year to meet overwhelming student demand. “We have also made each ensemble smaller,” Lambson said. “This allows each student to perform on more songs, and it also became more competitive.

“As a result, we are working on some more advanced music like ‘YYZ’ and ‘Schism,’ which are technically and musically complex, with challenging rhythms, like changing meters,” he said. “We are also using music technology for special effects and using timbales for Winter’s ‘Frankenstein.'”

Music students attending this concert will receive recital credit. For additional information about the Rockin’ Axes, visit https://www.facebook.com/RockinAxesOfSFAStateUniversity/.

Admission to the concert is free. For more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

The Band Department in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will feature several of its student and faculty ensembles in presenting “Kaleidoscope” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

“This unique concert format will feature all of the concert bands as well as the wind faculty members of the Stone Fort Wind Quintet and the Pineywoods Brass Quintet in a seamless evening of musical entertainment,” said Dr. David Campo, director of bands at SFA.

The concert will open with the SFA Trombone Octet, directed by Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone, performing James Kazik’s “The Hex Files.”

Next, the Symphonic Band, under the direction of Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands, will perform “Seeds of Glass” by Benjamin Taylor and “Single” by Jonathan Newman.

The Stone Fort Wind Quintet will continue the evening’s musical offerings with “Afro,” one movement of Valeria Coleman’s Afro-Cuban Concerto for Wind Quintet.

The evening transitions to the Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Tamey Anglley, associate director of bands, performing “Procession of the Nobles” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakoff and “La Procesion del Rocio” by Joaquin Turina.

Following the Wind Symphony, the Pineywoods Brass Quintet will perform Lee Morgan’s 1965 composition, “Ceora.”

Rounding out the evening will be the Wind Ensemble, directed by Campo, performing John Mackey’s epic symphony for band, “Wine Dark Sea,” based on the Homeric epic “The Odyssey.”

“The Band Department looks forward to sharing this musical offering with the community without interruption,” Campo said.

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.

The Music Prep Division in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music had several students to qualify for All-Region orchestras during recent auditions held at Kilgore Middle School.

Those selected to the All-Region High School Orchestra are violinists Shelby Rotramel, Holden Kelly, Haylee Harman, Ashlyn McBroom, Haley McBroom and Karys Alders; violist Connor Rudolph; cellist Jessica Schlaudt; and bassist Mason Baker.

Selected to the Middle School All-Region Orchestra are violinists Luke Scala, Gracie Lyn Harman, Nathaniel Hendricks and Lauren Hansen; violist Cate Baker; and cellist Will Sams.

The All-Region orchestras will perform Dec. 7 at Longview High School.

For a complete listing of Music Prep classes and types of instruction available, visit www.music.sfasu.edu/prep or contact Director Melissa Nabb at (936) 468-1291.