Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Team 1 recently placed first at the Task Force Tomahawk Ranger Challenge Competition held at Fort Hood.

This is the first time in the program’s history SFA won the challenge. Two teams from SFA competed against programs from other universities, including Sam Houston State University, Baylor University, Texas Christian University and the University of North Texas.

For Cadet Evan McCord, a junior who served as the team’s pace setter throughout the competition, winning it was an incredible experience.

“This competition is our outlet to show others what the SFA ROTC battalion is truly about,” McCord said. “With overwhelming support from cadre and others inside and outside the program, it felt incredible not only to place but also win the top spot and show our supporters their encouragement meant everything to us.”

SFA’s cadre worked with the teams to ensure the cadets were ready and prepared for the challenges. Cadets completed a rigorous physical training plan designed to help them be their best at this year’s competition. They also trained for the challenges they would have to complete at the competition, including tactical combat casualty care, orienteering, handgun stress shoot and zodiac boat operations.

SFA’s teams practiced together daily, which according to McCord, strengthened their unity and helped push them to success.

“We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and fill in the gaps for one another accordingly. There is never any arguing between us because we know who has the final call, and we trust one another’s judgment to accomplish the mission,” McCord said.

Ranger Challenge Team 1 will compete again Nov. 1 through 3 in Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. The competition will include teams from the University of Arizona, the University of New Mexico, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Brigham Young University, the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs and more.

For more information about SFA’s Army ROTC program, visit sfasu.edu/rotc.

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dr. Nathan Nabb, professor of saxophone in the School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University, and SFA collaborative pianist Hyun Ji Oh will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The recital will serve to recognize the birthday of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.

“I don’t often choose a program with a unifying theme in terms of compositional styles,” Nabb said. “I mainly choose music that I am interested in sharing with audiences and students. But, I did choose this date for a reason: Nov. 6 is Adolphe Sax’s birthday. Since he is the inventor of our instrument, saxophonists tend to recognize this date in different ways, and I thought it would be fun to give a recital!”

Among the program selections is Claude Debussy’s “Petite Suite,” a well-known and beloved piece for four-hand piano.

“The version Hyun Ji and I will play is a beautiful arrangement by composer Jun Nagao,” Nabb said. “The ‘Petite Suite’ is a set of four short pieces with all of the wonderful harmonies and beautiful phrasing and interplay one expects from this great composer.”

Jacob ter Veldhuis’ “Garden of Love” for soprano saxophone and soundtrack is based off of a William Blake poem with the same title. Ter Veldhuis, also known as Jacob TV, is a Dutch avant-garde classical composer.

“The work begins with a pre-recorded recitation of the poem,” Nabb said. “Then the speech sounds are manipulated into music that the saxophone interacts with throughout the piece, along with other bird sounds one may hear in nature. The whole work is very exciting, groove oriented and fun for the audience and performer.”

The program also includes William Bolcom’s “Lilith,” which Nabb described as “an evocative work” for alto saxophone and piano. “As the title implies, this piece is inspired by Lilith, a demonic character originating in the Babylonian Talmud and early Jewish mythology,” he said. The movement titles are “The Female Demon,” “Succuba,” “Will o’ the Wisp,” “Child-Stealer” and “Night Dance,” with each exploring all of the traits of this terrifying character.

Concert 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 Trombone Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform new works featured at this year’s International Trombone Festival when the student ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The choir’s director, Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music, is also the director of the Composers Workshop for the ITF, putting her in the unique position to hear and help select new works for the trombone choir.”There were eight new works for trombone ensemble, and we will be presenting two of them,” she said.

The choir will perform Alex Buehler’s “Z/28,” which represents sounds and harmonics that occur within an actual 1969 Z/28 Camaro engine. The piece is composed for a 16-part trombone choir. Buehler is currently pursuing a master’s degree in composition at the University of North Texas.

“The Dastardly Master Asteroid Blaster” by Adam Summey was also selected to be performed at the 2019 ITF. Summey is a trombonist studying at Appalachian State University.

“Both pieces use the unique timbre of the trombone to create a lot of energy that is really fun to listen to,” Scott said. “I’m excited to bring these compositions back home.”

More traditional trombone choir pieces will include David Uber’s “Three Miniatures, Op. 29” and a transcription of William Byrd’s “Cantiones Sacre II-Aec Dies” from the 16th century.

Along with the trombone choir, members of the SFA Trombone Quartet will perform a new composition, “Flurry,” by SFA graduate composition student Scott Hansen. Quartet members include Kahlil Wyatt of Duncanville; Sterling Davis of Columbus, Ohio; Levi Grant of Longview; and Joe Segelke of Bridge City.

Concert 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.