Tickets on sale for SFA fine arts fund-raiser

Members of the Dean's Circle Advisory Board gather for a planning session for their upcoming fund-raiser, the Winners' Circle. All monies raised through the event will be applied toward establishing endowed professorships for the Schools of Art, Music and Theatre in the SFA College of Fine Arts. Pictured, seated, from left, are Jean Stephens, Cindy Himes, and Dr. A.C. "Buddy" Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts. Standing, from left, are Ron Johnson, event co-chair; Jack Ledbetter; and Dr. Leon Hallman, chair of the Dean's Circle Advisory Board.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Tickets are now available for the Winners' Circle fund-raiser from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the home of Jack and Doris Ledbetter. The evening of live entertainment, socializing and a cocktail buffet is being presented by the Dean's Circle to raise funds for endowed professorships within the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts.

"Since its formation in February 2008, the Dean's Circle has been committed to establishing an endowment that can be used to encourage and enable faculty members in the Schools of Art, Music and Theatre to excel within their creative fields," said Dr. A.C. "Buddy" Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "Once we've raised the necessary funds we can annually award the professorships to one faculty member from each of our three disciplines to pursue a creative project."

"To ensure that we all have a great time, and to show off the talent within the College of Fine Arts, we've lined up some special entertainers," said Dr. Leon Hallman, chair of the Dean's Circle.

Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of piano, will perform "Scherzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 31" by Frederic Chopin, and David Howard, associate director of choirs, will sing "If Ever I Would Leave You," "On a Clear Day" and "If I Loved You." Assistant Professor of Voice Scott LaGraff and his wife, Kim, will sing "All I Ask of You" and "The Way You Look Tonight." Linda Parr, SFA lecturer of piano, will accompany Howard and the LaGraffs.

The first recipients of the newly established Dean's Awards for students within the College of Fine Arts will also be present to share their talent. Senior Amy Bennett, playing the English horn, will perform Eugene Bozza's "Shepherds of Provence, Op. 43" with Dr. John W. Goodall, SFA professor of oboe.

Senior theatre major David Hathway and Dr. Alan Nielson, SFA professor of theatre, will perform a scene from "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Works by Sean Roberts, senior art major, will be on display.

The event is sponsored in part by Clardy Davis & Knowles, LLP, First Bank & Trust and Nacogdoches Medical Center.

Tickets to the event are $100 per person or couple and include annual membership dues for the Dean's Circle. Donors are encouraged to make additional contributions toward the endowment fund at the time that they purchase the tickets.

Persons interested in attending may call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS to purchase tickets. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 14.