Everything Nac

Dr. Jonathan Tsay will present a solo piano recital pairing selections from the standard repertoire with pieces written by Taiwanese composers who wrote their works in the early to mid-20th century when he performs at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Tsay, assistant professor of piano at the University of Memphis, is a collaborative pianist, chamber musician, producer and arts administrator who recently discovered the library of works by Taiwanese composers from this era.

“The works not only reveal the sophistication and craftsmanship of classical music works originating from East Asia during this time period,” he said, “but they also provide a fascinating look into the turbulent history of Taiwan from pre-WWII Japanese occupation through its emergence into modern day influence and controversy on the world stage.”

Among the works to be performed is Jiang Wen-Ye’s “Formosan Dance,” which won an award at the art competition at the Berlin Summer Olympics. “This piece is representative of Jiang’s compositional style that blends elements of East Asian traditional music with modernist European classical techniques,” Tsay said.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Dumka, Op. 59, subtitled “scène rustique Russe,” is an introspective piece characterized by its contrasting sections, shifting between sorrowful, introspective moments and bursts of vibrant, folk-inspired melodies.

“A Sketch of the Rainy Harbor” by Ma Shui-Long (a Neo-Impressionist evocation of his hometown of Keelung) is in four short movements, “Rain,” “Harbor Views on Rainy Nights,” “The Girl who Collects Seashells” and “At the Temple Gate.”

Prior to his appointment at The University of Memphis, Tsay served numerous roles in the music community including head of collaborative piano at Conservatory Music in the Mountains, head of piano at the Chloé Trevor Music Academy, presenter and artist for Cliburn in the Classroom (which serves over 50k under-served second through fourth graders in the DFW area per year) and artistic director of Ensemble75, a chamber music series based in the North Texas area. Tsay also served as principal keyboard for the Las Colinas Symphony, Arlington Symphony and Garland Symphony.

His performances have been broadcast on classical radio stations and are featured in the companion CD to “Brahms – A Listener’s Guide: Unlocking the Masters Series.” His album, “Harmonic Allusions,” was named in the “Top 5 Albums of 2017” by TheaterJones, and his YouTube collaboration with Chloé Trevor performing “Danse Macabre” has garnered more than 1.3 million views.

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

Faculty members of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will be the featured performers during the annual Pi Kappa Lambda Music Faculty Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The concert highlights the talents of the diverse School of Music performing faculty, according to Dr. Jamie Weaver, associate professor of music history at SFA and president of Pi Kappa Lambda honor society. Proceeds from the concert fund scholarships for deserving SFA music majors selected by the society.

“We look forward each year to this concert that features performances by our exceptionally talented faculty,” Weaver said. “In addition to their teaching expertise, our music faculty members also have very active performing careers and are sought-after clinicians across the nation.”

This year’s program features performances by vocalists Debbie Berry, soprano; Richard Berry, tenor; Tod Fish, tenor; Nita Hudson, mezzo-soprano; Scott LaGraff, baritone; Kimberly LaGraff, mezzo-soprano; and Chris Turner, baritone.

Pianists include Mario Ajero, Mary Cooper, Minhae Lee, Ben Morris and Tracy Cole. Other featured instrumentalists include Jennifer Dalmas, violin; Bob Eason, soprano saxophone; Larry Greer, guitar; Cody Hunter, bassoon; Samantha Inman, flute; Brad Meyer, percussion; Melissa Nabb, viola; Evgeni Raychev, cello; JD Salas, bass; Deb Scott, trombone; Jenna Sehmann, oboe; James Vilseck, percussion; and Jake Walburn, trumpet.

The recital is a joint presentation of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building at 2210 Alumni Drive.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. To purchase tickets, visit sfasu.edu/boxoffice, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

Maggie Hinchliffe, staff pianist at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a recital with guest performer Michael Alampi, flute, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at First Baptist Church, Nacogdoches.

“Works by Women for Piano and Flute” will feature selections by women composers, including Anna Bon, Augusta Holmès, Valerie Coleman, Amanda Harberg and Samantha Fernando. The program was presented on a summer tour in upstate New York and Long Island. Following a Texas tour, the program will be presented in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Hinchliffe is a pianist with a focus in the collaborative arts. Before coming to SFA, she was the pianist for Boulder Opera Company in Boulder, Colorado, and played for productions of “Il Trovatore,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “La Bohème” and “L’enfant et les sortilèges.” She has performed with vocal partners in the U.S., Austria and Germany. An advocate for new music and interdisciplinary art, Hinchliffe has premiered operas, art songs and other works with piano, and she has commissioned composers and poets through her podcast “How It’s Musically Made,” and written poems for musical commissions.

Michael Alampi is a multifaceted musician based in New York City. He holds a private teaching studio and freelances on Broadway and for studio recordings, orchestras and concert tours that come through the area. He has appeared in concerts and recitals at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Discovery Times Square, United Palace Theater and more.

The free concert is a presentation of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts and the SFA School of Music. First Baptist Church is located at 411 North St. For more information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.