Renowned soprano to present Americana music at SFA

Soprano Twyla Robinson will open the SFA College of Fine Arts' 2009-2010 University Series with a program of Americana songs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Tickets are still available for the Americana concert by internationally acclaimed soprano Twyla Robinson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. The concert opens the SFA College of Fine Arts' 2009-2010 University Series.

"This promises to be an enjoyable evening of songs by American composers," said Scott LaGraff, SFA assistant professor of voice. "Ms. Robinson will present a very diverse program, from the sophistication of Samuel Barber's 'Hermit Songs' to classic folk songs by Stephen Foster, a set of rag tunes, and songs made popular on the Broadway stage and in the movies."

In high demand for concert performances, Robinson regularly performs with top orchestras in the United States and Europe. She made her debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9," which she has also sung with the San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra at New York's Avery Fisher Hall and the Barbican Centre in London.

As a recitalist, Robinson sang Mahler's "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" as part of San Francisco Opera's Song Recital Series, followed by four solo recitals under the auspices of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, including her New York recital debut at Merkin Concert Hall.

She had her Carnegie Hall debut in 2004 when she joined Horne and other world-renowned artists in a gala concert celebrating Horne's 70th birthday. Robinson has also sung recitals at the University of Denver's Newman Center, London's Wigmore Hall and Spivey Hall in Atlanta.

Tickets to Robinson's Nacogdoches recital range from $35 to $17.50, with discounts available for seniors, students and youth. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

Prior to the performance, Dr. Deborah Dalton, SFA associate professor of voice, will give a brief lecture about the recital at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery, across the hall from Turner Auditorium. The audience is invited to return to the gallery after the performance for a reception honoring Robinson.

W.M. Turner Auditorium is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Dr. on the SFA campus.