Everything Nac

The Nacogdoches Symphony Club and the Nacogdoches Music Teachers Association will mark milestones in each organization’s history by presenting “A Brick Street Serenade,” a concert and scholarship fundraiser, Saturday, April 20.

Beginning at 7 p.m. at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches, the event is designed to raise funds for the Baumgartner Memorial Award and the Mamie Middlebrook Scholarship, both of which are awarded to deserving music students attending Stephen F. Austin State University.

Hosted by SFA alumni John Dickson, a Hollywood composer, arranger and pianist, and Brad Maule, formerly “General Hospital’s” Dr. Tony Jones who now teaches filmmaking at SFA and serves as a Nacogdoches City Council member, “A Brick Street Serenade” will feature performances by previous Baumgartner Award recipients Richard Berry, Michael Kelley Dixon, Richard Novak, Nathan Ponder and Yvonne Gonzales Redman; and previous Middlebrook Scholarship recipients Stephen Burnaman and Christie Hill Cook.

The festivities will also celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Nacogdoches Symphony Club and the 50th anniversary of the Nacogdoches Music Teachers Association. The Symphony Club sponsors the Baumgartner Award, established in 1962, and presents the award annually to an advanced vocal student at SFA. The NMTA, affiliated with the Texas Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association, supports the Middlebrook Scholarship, given annually to a piano student who provides a solo performance for the NMTA local chapter. Proceeds from “A Brick Street Serenade” will further efforts to establish endowments for each award.

Donations start at $25 per person and can be paid at the door the night of the event. Personal checks and cash will be accepted, and a QR code will be provided for credit card donations. Admission includes wine and hors d’oeuvres. Cocktail attire is requested. For additional information, email Linda Parr at lparr@sfasu.edu. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St.

“Street Scene,” an American opera by Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes and Elmer Rice, is this year’s opera theater production presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1929 play of the same name by Rice, “Street Scene” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 11 through 13, in W.M. Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, SFA campus.

The story portrays romances, squabbles, gossip and tragedy associated with neighborhood tenement life in Manhattan’s East Side during the hot summer of 1946. The opera explores themes that are timeless – love, alienation, jealousy, hope, tolerance, assimilation of immigrants, and apartment life in the inner city, according to Dr. Richard Berry, professor of voice at SFA and opera theater stage director.

“Many of the issues addressed in the show are quite contemporary in the present day,” Berry said.

“Street Scene” is described as “An American Opera,” and it is Weill’s attempt to merge traditional opera and the American musical, explains Berry.

“After his immigration to the United States, Weill began his assimilation into the American music scene by trying to create a new genre,” he said. “He famously said that there was not ‘classical music’ and ‘popular music,’ only ‘good music’ and ‘bad music.’ He was determined to merge the European tradition with American innovations and write ‘good music.'”

Most of the student performers are unfamiliar with the many cultural references and words used by Weill, poet Hughes and playwright Rice, Berry said. They have been learning the names and significance of “Joe Louis” and “Mrs. Vanderbilt” and terms like “bill of fare” and “Bergdorf Goodman.” Berry likened the rehearsal process to “an education in mid-20th century culture.”

The students have worked hard to sing the “difficult but fulfilling music,” Berry said. “We are very fortunate to have a large number of talented students so that we are able to double-cast most of the principal roles in the show, giving more students an opportunity to gain the experience of preparing and performing a featured role. In addition, the chorus in this production is stellar.”

Production manager is voice faculty member Nita Hudson, and conductor is Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities. Other key production crew members are Luis Ramirez, scenic designer; Tom Littrell, lighting designer; Gregory Condon, scenic construction supervisor; Benjamin Kramer, scene painting supervisor; and Gracie O’Dell, costume coordinator.

“This is a powerful show with operatic arias and show tunes, and it addresses inner city apartment life with nosy neighbors, young families, immigrants, and all that goes with such a combination,” Berry added. “There is something for everyone.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students and youth. For tickets, visit sfasu.edu/boxoffice or call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407. For more information about the opera or School of Music, call (936) 468-4602.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s horticulture program and Horticulture Club will host their sixth annual Spring Plant Fair from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the SFA Plantery located at 1924 Wilson Drive.

Plants available for purchase include a variety of summer annuals like coleus, vinca, sweet potato, summer snapdragon, wishbone flower and more. Students also will have a selection of native plants like blue-eyed grass, winecups and asters for sale. All plants sold will grow well in the East Texas area.

Along with the wide array of plants, pancakes also will be available to customers in the morning on a first-come, first-served basis. Pancakes will be free; however, donations are encouraged.

The Plantery is a program rooted within the Department of Agriculture where students grow and raise plants in the micro-farm Sprout, the greenhouses and the teaching gardens around the SFA Agriculture Building. This event also serves as an opportunity to tour the plant-growing operation and the projects that students have developed such as the gravel garden and hydroponic system.

“The students are very excited to display their developing knowledge about growing plants,” said Dr. Jared Barnes, associate professor of horticulture and steward of the Plantery. “We welcome the SFA and Nacogdoches communities to tour the Plantery and buy plants to support our students’ learning.”

The Horticulture Club is an active organization with students from a wide variety of majors. They meet Thursday nights in the Agriculture Building.

For more information, contact Barnes at barnesj@sfasu.edu, visit the Plantery, or follow on Instagram at @sfahorticulture.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. April 11 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Dr. Yan Chen, professor in medicinal plant physiology with the Louisiana State University School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, will present “Everything You Wanted to Know about Crapemyrtle Bark Scale but Were Afraid to Ask.”

Chen was born in Beijing, China, and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from China Agriculture University. She received a doctoral degree in horticulture and a graduate certificate in entomology from Kansas State University.

Chen’s research interests focus on plant nutrient physiology, integrated pest management and developing crop production guidelines for new specialty crops. She has successfully led several interdisciplinary research projects and was co-principal investigator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crapemyrtle bark scale project. She has worked with entomologists, ecologists and economists on the biology and management of this invasive species.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the PNPC, 2900 Raguet St., or Raguet Elementary School, 2708 Raguet St.

For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

The Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts Dean’s Circle at Stephen F. Austin State University will recognize six students during the presentation of the annual Dean’s Awards at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Alexandria Wooldridge, art major from East Texas; Rachel Ball, music education major from Plano; Mikaela Settle, music major from Mansfield; Zoie Dorn, theatre education major from Keller; Cameron Phillips, music education major from Katy; and Bria Collums, art (filmmaking) major from Jacinto City, were selected by the faculty of their respective schools on the basis of their potential to further develop their artistic goals and serve as role models for other students, according to Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of the Elliott College of Fine Arts.

“The Dean’s Awards were established to recognize students who are seen as models of excellence among their peers in terms of their academic accomplishments, artistic achievement and leadership qualities,” Wurtz said. “What I love most about these particular awards is that the students do not apply for them. They are nominated and selected by the faculty, and then informed that they have been named the recipients, and the news is usually a complete surprise to them.”

The awards were established by the Dean’s Circle, an external support organization of community members founded in 2008 and dedicated, in part, to nurturing potential young artists within the College of Fine Arts, Wurtz said.

Woolridge, who will receive the Ed and Gwen Cole Memorial Dean’s Award in Art, is an oil painter. With a lifelong passion for painting, her artistic journey has been shaped by her surroundings in East Texas, gothic architecture and German expressionism. Her paintings express deep emotions of pain and hurt, feelings she believes everyone endures at some point in their lives. She hopes to capture cathartic sentiment in her paintings, making them open to interpretation and expressing different stories or walks of life. When looking at schools, Alexandria was captivated by the beautiful campus at SFA and inspired by the work of professor Shaun Roberts. She describes SFA as “the perfect path for my artistic growth.” Through painting, she seeks to capture the essence of her surroundings with a unique artistic vision and to immerse everyone into an unknown world of unsettling beauty.

Ball, who will receive the Dean’s Circle Dean’s Award in Music, minors in jazz studies. Studying bass trombone under SFA’s Dr. Deb Scott, she has been a member of many music ensembles at SFA including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, the Swingin’ Axes Jazz Band, the Trombone Choir, the Trombone Octet, the Lumberjack Marching Band and the Roarin’ Buzzsaws Pep Band. She also studies piano with Dr. Minhae Lee. She currently serves as operations manager for the Lumberjack Marching Band and works as an assistant in the band office. Upon graduation, she plans to be a band director in Texas and possibly attend graduate school for conducting in the future.

Originating from Mansfield, Settle, who will receive the Dr. Robert G. Sidnell Dean’s Award in Music Education, is in her junior year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in choral music education under the vocal mentorship of Debbie Berry. She has been active in various musical organizations including the Kantorei Choir and A Cappella Choir, as well as performing in the chorus for the 2023 opera theater production of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.” Mikaela will perform the role of Olga Olsen in the 2024 production of Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene.” She is a recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, choral scholarships, housing scholarships, designation as a BNSF Railway Foundation Scholar and has been on the President’s List. After graduation, she plans to teach choir in Texas public schools before pursuing further education, eventually teaching at the collegiate level.

Dorn, who will receive the George and Peggy Schmidbauer Dean’s Award in Theatre, is a junior theatre education major from Keller. Her acting credits include Ellen in “The Actor’s Nightmare,” Shanti in “The Jungle Book KIDS,” Chorus 3 in “The Yellow Boat,” Elaine in “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere,” Susan in “Emily/Emily,” and 1st Actress in “A Cheever Evening.” Her technical show credits include sound board operator in “Our Town,” wardrobe crew in “Women Who Weave,” stage manager/assistant director in “Mustard,” director of “The Book of Will,’ assistant choreographer in “The Jungle Book KIDS,” and wardrobe crew head for “Moon Over Buffalo.” She has been active in On Display Devised, Crescendo and APO theatre organizations. She plans to teach high school theatre and establish a Partners in Theatre program for Special Education students.

Phillips, who will receive the John N. and Margaret Staley Scholarship in Fine Arts, is a junior music education major earning a Bachelor of Music in music education. Born in Katy, Cameron found his passion for music education in his early high school years, and SFA had always been his school of choice. He studies voice under Dr. Scott LaGraff and music education under Drs. Claire and Michael Murphy. He is a member of the A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers will perform the role of “Sam Kaplan” in the 2024 SFA opera production of “Street Scene.” He was a member of the SFA Singin’ Axes and sang the role of “Morales” in SFA’s 2023 production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” Cameron has maintained an Academic Excellence scholarship for three years and appeared multiple times on the Dean’s List. He is a choral scholarship recipient in the School of Music and is a member of the Texas Choral Directors Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. He plans to teach in Houston-area public schools and hopes to earn a master’s degree in choral conducting.

Collums, who will receive the Ruth Buzzi Honorary Dean’s Award in Filmmaking, is a first-generation junior from Jacinto City. She transferred from San Jacinto Community College to SFA in the fall of 2022 to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in filmmaking. She has always had a passion for the art of filmmaking and a desire to bring her creative visions to life. Her love for the fine arts started when she became a stage manager in her high school’s theatre program. She is currently working on her latest short film “These Four Walls,” which she wrote, directed and edited. The inspiration for her works involve real-world experiences to which she believes those around her can relate. Since joining SFA’s filmmaking program, she has met and had the pleasure of working with so many amazing and creative people, and she is looking forward to working on the upcoming summer feature film.

The student awards are made possible because the Dean’s Circle believes in investing in the future, and members are willing to contribute and raise the money needed to fund these individual awards each year, Wurtz said. For more information about the Dean’s Circle, contact Wurtz at gwurtz@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2801.

Faculty members in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Education Studies were awarded funding through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program to support their East Texas Adventurers program, an environmental education-focused camping initiative.

The funding will support the creation of four camping trips that invite students from Nacogdoches’ McMichael Middle School to interact with and learn from nature.

Associate professor Dr. Sarah Straub and assistant professor Dr. Melissa Hulings were awarded the $98,491 COOP grant, which provides funding to tax-exempt organizations for programming that engages under-served populations in TPWD mission-oriented outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education activities. Additionally, Dr. Summer Koltonski, assistant professor of education studies, has joined the program to support programming for students with special needs.

“I am thrilled to once again collaborate with McMichael Middle School for the East Texas Adventurers program,” Straub said. “Working alongside returning teachers and administrators is so exciting because we can bring in the lessons we learned from our first go-around to make the experience so much better for our students. I can’t wait to continue the exploration, discovery and connections through our adventures!”

The James I. Perkins College of Education faculty members will partner with nearby state parks, including Mission Tejas, Caddo Lake and Tyler, to organize overnight camping trips that will foster a deeper connection to nature and engage in academic topics in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

“Each of the four camping adventures will focus on a different topic that directly relates to student learning in the classroom through a variety of activities,” Hulings said. “I am most excited about seeing students connect with the outdoors and see how their learning in the classroom can be applied to their lives. I hope that children participating in this project will gain an appreciation for the outdoors and develop a greater connection to their local environments and parks.”

Recruitment for adventure counselors will commence this spring. Individuals interested in outdoor overnight adventures are encouraged to email Straub at straubsm@sfasu.edu for further details.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to integrate outdoor experiences into our collaboration, thanks to our invaluable partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,” Straub said. “By combining our efforts, we aim not only to enrich the academic journey of the students but also instill in them a profound appreciation for nature and the world around them.”

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By Parastoo Nikravesh, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University