Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics invites the community to attend the fall 2022 Undergraduate Research Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Cole STEM Building in the Barry E. Nelson Atrium on campus.

The showcase will focus on the work of the college’s undergraduate researchers on topics ranging from things found on the Earth to the stars in the galaxy.

“This showcase is an inclusive event that will highlight completed student research and, for the first time, student work in progress,” said Mindy Faulkner, undergraduate research coordinator for the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

“Visitors will have the opportunity to view research conducted by every department in our college and at all scales, from the tiny microfossils that can be found in the rocks underneath our feet, to the sophisticated equipment used to track the stars and planets in our solar system,” she said.

Faculty and staff will be present for anyone who is interested in learning more about getting involved with undergraduate research.

“Participating in undergraduate research is a great way to develop professional skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, time management, collaboration and scientific communication,” Faulkner said. “We look forward to sharing the exceptional research conducted by our students, and inspiring the next cohort of students to get involved in undergraduate research.”

For more information, contact Faulkner at mgshaw@sfasu.edu.

The bands of Stephen F. Austin State University will present their fourth annual “Kaleidoscope’ concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus. The program will feature all three concert bands along with student chamber ensembles in a “kaleidoscope event” with no breaks between performances, according to Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA.

The concert will open with Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands, performing selected movements from Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” The work is inspired by a 13th century anthology of songs and texts written by the goliards, a group of young clergy known for their satirical Latin poetry. John Krance’s wind ensemble arrangement of this work spans a wide gamut of characters: bombastic declamations, a spritely asymmetrical dance and even an “ominous” tavern song.

SFA Saxophone Quartet, including Caleb Allen of Beaver, West Viriniga; Riona Kumazaki of Toyohashi Aichi, Japan; Carter Vernon of North Manchester, Indiana; and Peyton Joffre of Carrollton, will perform a movement from Guillermo Lago’s “Ciudades.” Written in 2011, “Ciudades” (Cities) is a series of musical sketches of cities that have special meaning to Lago. The saxophone quartet will perform the movement ‘Addis Ababa,’ which is the capital of Ethiopia. The work was inspired by Lago’s collaboration with the Ethiopian singer Minyeshu.

Wind Symphony will take the stage under the direction of Dr. Dan Haddad, associate director of bands. The students will perform Donald Grantham’s “Starry Crown,” based on gospel music of the 1920s and ’30s from the Deep South featuring a style sometimes referred to as ‘gutbucket’ gospel because of its raw, earthy and primitive character. Three authentic tunes are used in this work: “Some of These Days,” “Oh Rocks, Don’t Fall on Me!” and “When I Went Down in the Valley.”

The SFA Percussion Ensemble will perform Zachary Cairn’s “Rhythmic Ceremonial Ritual” for seven tambourines. Cairns wanted to compose a piece for a tambourine ensemble in which each player could work on different techniques in a fun, entertaining setting.

The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Anglley, will perform the first three movements from Philip Sparke’s “Dance Movements,” all dance-inspired from different cultures, with the second and third movements featuring woodwinds and brass, respectively.

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

Dr. Alexander Russakovsky, professor of cello and chamber music at the University of Southern Mississippi, will present a guest recital at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the Music Recital Hall, Wright Music Building, on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Russakovsky will be joined by colleague Dr. Elizabeth Moak, associate professor of piano, USM, in performing works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. Their program features Bach’s Sonata in G Minor, No. 3, BWV 1029; Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major, Op. 102, No. 1; and Brahms’ Sonata in E minor, Op. 38.

“The program includes some of the greatest works in the German cello repertoire,” Russakovsky said. “Originally written for viola da gamba and cembalo, Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029, was probably composed by J. S. Bach during his time as a cantor at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.”

The most intimate of Beethoven’s cello sonatas, Op. 102, No. 1 was completed in 1815. It contains many features typical of the composer’s late period, including unconventional form, deeply probing emotional content and polyphonic texture, Russakovsky explains.

Brahms’ E minor Sonata, Op. 38 is known for its somber character. “One of the first works that Brahms wrote for a solo instrument and piano, it demonstrates recognizable characteristics of the composer’s style: Romantic expressivity that is firmly grounded in the classical form and contrapuntal techniques,” Russakovsky writes.

Russakovsky joined the music faculty of the University of Southern Mississippi in 2001. He also has served on the faculty of the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival in Bonefro, Italy, and the Violoncello Biennial in Lima, Peru. A founding member of the Jerusalem Academy String Quartet, he has performed with the group throughout Israel and Europe. Most recently, Russakovsky has given master classes and recitals in Taiwan, Israel and Latin America. He holds a master’s degree from Yale University and a doctorate in cello performance from UC Santa Barbara.

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.

The Jacks of Steel at Stephen F. Austin State University will present “This Feelin’ Nice” program when the steel band performs at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. James Vilseck, the Jacks of Steel will perform music that is “relaxing, groovy and just plain enjoyable to listen to,” Vilseck said. “The entire program is based on ‘feel-good’ music. We feature some traditional pieces, called a soca or a calypso, that you would typically think of when you think steel drums, as well as some popular songs all about that warm feeling, such as ‘Happy’ by Pharell Williams and ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ by Johnny Nash.”

Vilseck said the theme of the concert relates to his favorite characteristic about this type of ensemble. “The steel drum ensemble is a blast to perform in and to teach,” he said. “The music often fits into the theme already, so selecting the repertoire actually became a challenge, because we had so much to pull from. The charts we are playing, while all feel-good music, still brings a good variety, from fast and energetic, to slow and relaxing. This concert is sure to bring a smile to your face!”

The concert opens with “Morning Dance” written by Jay Beckinstein and performed by the band Spyro Gyra. A personal favorite of Vilseck’s and the first chart he played on steel pan in his undergraduate studies, he described it as “a jazz fusion chart that is the epitome of feel-good music, bringing a positive energy and groove, as if to start the day off right, or in this case, the concert.”

In addition to “Happy” and “I Can See Clearly Now,” the audience will recognize “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin, as the ensemble brings a Caribbean twist to each song.

For the final piece of the concert, the Jacks of Steel will be joined by Nacogdoches High School percussion students under the direction of Frank Gonzalez. Performing the classic steel band chart “Jump in the Line,” the SFA members will play on steel pans while the NHS students perform on various mallet instruments.

Vilseck described the current Jacks of Steel group as “one of the most energetic and skilled steel band ensembles I’ve taught here at SFA. The way they have embraced the music and this program makes me very excited to share their music with people. The coolest thing to me is that many of the members had never touched a steel band instrument when we started at the end of August, yet they have pushed themselves to master the instrument and the repertoire.”

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.

Student ensembles in the Sound Recording Technology program at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov.13, in the Music Recital Hall, Wright Music Building, on the SFA campus.

The Commercial Music Ensemble will perform “As It Was” by Harry Styles, “Transparent Soul” by Willow, and “Dive” by Ed Sheeran, among other works. The Popular Music Ensemble will perform “It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over” by Lenny Kravitz, “Karma Police” by Radiohead and “Bend The Rules” by Niall Horan​, along with other artists. Both groups are directed by James Taylor, SRT lecturer in the School of Music.

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.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s fight song ­— the longtime mantra of the university’s athletic triumphs known for its vigorous brass melodies and drumline cadences — will now be accompanied by expanded university-sanctioned lyrics.

After a nearly yearlong development and approval period, the lyrics passed legislation by the Student Government Association in April 2022 and were approved by interim president Dr. Steve Westbrook the following month. The new lyrics were rolled out to students during summer Lumberjack Orientation and Jack Camp sessions.

The idea to implement fight song lyrics came from T.J. Maple, coordinator of SFA’s Cheer and Dance Teams. Maple, who has guided SFA spirit teams to 16 national championships in the past 17 years, said it was hearing competitors from other schools sing along to their fight songs at sporting events and competitions that spurred the idea.

“After years of attending numerous sporting events and cheer and dance nationals where other schools were singing to their fight songs, I felt that this could help to unite us as Lumberjacks,” Maple said.

Maple wrote the first draft with his assistant coaches while on a break during the 2021 national competition in Daytona Beach, Florida.

SFA’s fight song was originally developed by a faculty member in the 1940s who adapted the song from a trio to the march, “Pride of the Illini.” Before the newly implemented lyrics, the only spoken words were a chorus — or more aptly, a battle cry — that echoed across packed coliseums and stadiums during a drum cadence:

“Go! Jacks! Go!

Fight! Jacks! Fight!

Win! Jacks! Win!

S-F-A-S-U!”

Following a meticulous writing process, Maple suggested revitalized and refreshed lyrics to a few university administrators, and an SFA Fight Song Lyrics Committee was established. The committee reviewed the background of the proposed lyrics and the process for adopting them. Music faculty members and AXEperience student leaders further refined the words.

Members of the committee included chair Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of Student Life; Maple; Graham Garner, SFA chief marketing communications officer; Brandi Bryant, associate athletic director of student athlete services; Craig Turnage, Alumni Association executive director; and Chris Kaatz, assistant director of the Lumberjack Marching Band.

The proposed lyrics were presented to many student organizations and groups, including student-athletes, SGA, the student leader advisory board, AXEperience, the Student Activities Association, the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Office of Multicultural Affairs ambassadors, and the marching band. The lyrics were met with overwhelming approval.

According to Smith and Maple, much like the poetic nature of the SFA school song, the lyrics are intended to convey the Lumberjack spirit, the school colors, the beloved mascot, the alma mater and historic Nacogdoches:

“From the oldest town in Texas

Where the Lumberjacks chop through the pines

From the oldest town in Texas

Where we fight for the purple and white

From the oldest town in Texas

Where the purple lights shine bright for vict’ry

We fight for our honor and praise our alma mater

Hail dear ol’ S-F-A!

Go! Jacks! Go!

Fight! Jacks! Fight!

Win! Jacks! Win!

S-F-A-S-U!

From the oldest town in Texas

Where the purple lights shine bright for vict’ry

We fight for our honor and praise our alma mater

J-A-C-K-S,

Goooooooo Jacks!”

“Each line in the fight song embodies something about SFA ­— our colors, mascot, town, purple lights and victory — which all showcase our already rich traditions,” Maple said. “My favorite line, ‘From the oldest town in Texas, where the Lumberjacks chop through the pines,’ embodies who we are and where we come from no matter what we do for SFA.”

By Nathan Wicker, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University