NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The SFA Wind Ensemble's upcoming "Salute to American Music" will feature music by American composers and several SFA guest artists. The season-opening concert will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.
Featured guest conductor will be Dr. A.C. "Buddy" Himes, dean of the SFA College of Fine Arts. He will conduct Morton Gould's "American Salute," a fantasia based on the folk song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."
"Dr. Himes has conducting experience from some of his previous positions," said Fred J. Allen, SFA's director of bands and director of the Wind Ensemble. "I thought it would be interesting for our community to see this facet of Dr. Himes' musical background."
David W. Campo, associate director of bands, will conduct "Gallant Seventh March" by John Philip Sousa, and Brett A. Richardson, assistant director of bands, will conduct "Divertimento" by Pulitzer Prize winner Karel Husa, who immigrated to America from the former Czechoslovakia.
Featured soloist will be J.D. Salas, instructor of tuba and euphonium, who will perform "Symphonic Variants for Tuba and Band" by American composer James Curnow.
The Wind Ensemble will also play David Maslanka's "Give Us This Day," a short symphony for band that captures the usual ferver found in Maslanka's music, according to Allen.
The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Turner Auditorium is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Dr. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!