Everything Nac

The SFA Symphony Orchestra’s final concert of the spring semester will feature Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 when the ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Conducted by Dr. Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities at SFA, the orchestra’s program will be “one of the most beautiful programs the SFASO is going to perform this year,” Grabowski said.

The concert opens with Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture, which Grabowski describes as “an orchestral tour de force that is as much to listen to as it is to perform.”

The program also includes one of the most beautiful pieces written by Aram Khachaturian, his Adagio for Spartacus and Phrygia.

The program concludes with special guest Dr. Minhae Lee, SFA’s new piano professor, on Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, one of his most famous compositions.

“Dr. Lee is an amazing pianist, and it’s been a joy to work with her,” Grabowski said. “Her technique is flawless, making the Rachmaninov seem much easier than it is. But more importantly, she plays so musically that you are transported by her playing.

“It’s been a delight to work with Dr. Lee and an amazing experience for the SFASO to perform with someone so talented,” he added.

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 Wind Symphony at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the program “The Road to Now” when the student ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 25, in the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Dan Haddad, associate director of bands, the Wind Symphony will perform “Illumination” by David Maslanka; Variations on “America” by Charles Ives; and “In Living Color” by Katahj Copley, among other wind band standards.

Maslanka is especially interested in composing music for young people that “allows them a vibrant experience of their own creative energy,” he writes. “A powerful experience of this sort stays in the heart and mind as a channel for creative energy, no matter what the life path. Music shared in community brings this vital force to everyone.”

Originally composed for organ, Variations on “America” was written in 1891 when Ives was 17. It is an arrangement of the traditional “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and was at the time the de facto anthem of the United States, according to Haddad. The tune is also widely recognized in Thomas Arne’s orchestration as the British National Anthem, “God Save the Queen,” and in the former anthems of Russia, Switzerland and Germany, as well as being the current national anthem of Liechtenstein and royal anthem of Norway.

Following the global pandemic, Copley wrote “In Living Color” as an ode to music, especially music performed on the wind band stage. “The piece offers a kaleidoscope of colors and energy from modern jazz artists such as Snarky Puppy and American Boy singer Estelle, and takes inspiration from George Gershwin,” Copley writes.

Admission to the concert is free. For more information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

Student ensembles in the Sound Recording Technology program at Stephen F. Austin State University will present concerts Sunday afternoon, April 24, in the Music Recital Hall of Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

The Commercial Music Ensemble will perform music by John Mayer, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and similar artists at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 24, followed by the Popular Music Ensemble performing music by Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Tom Petty and other artists within this genre at 2:30 p.m. Both groups are directed by James Taylor, SRT lecturer in the School of Music.

Admission is free. For additional information about the SRT program, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the annual Concert in the Park Sunday, April 24, in the wooded area along Vista Drive and in front of the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus. The concert begins at 2 p.m. and is free to the public.

All four SFA concert bands will perform, including the Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA; the Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Dan Haddad, associate director of bands; Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. Chris Kaatz, assistant director of bands; and University Band, directed by graduate student conductors Abbigail Ramsey and Christina Colley. The SFA mariachi band, Los Leñadores, will also perform pre-concert music beginning at 1:40 pm.

A meeting of the Lumberjack Band Alumni Association will be held in the Band Hall following the concert.

Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, honorary band service fraternity and sorority, will sell hamburger plates beginning at 1 p.m. Plates are $5 each and will include a burger, chips and beverage. SFA and band merchandise will also be available for purchase.

For additional information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602.