Composition students win at NACUSA-TX conference

(L-R): NACUSA-TX conference host Nico Schuler, SFA senior Russell Cannon, NACUSA-TX board member Daniel Adams, and SFA senior Tyler Hughes.

Stephen F. Austin State University music composition students swept the undergraduate competition at the recent conference for the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Composers/USA held in San Marcos. Killeen senior Tyler Hughes (far right) won the prize for best undergraduate composition, and Garland senior Russell Cannon (second from left) received the honorable mention. Pictured also are conference host Nico Schuler and Daniel Adams, Texas Chapter board member. This is the fourth consecutive year that SFA has won the top undergraduate honor at this event. Cannon won it in 2010; and Aden Kent Ramsey, current SFA graduate student from Lufkin, won it in 2008 and 2009. A total of 10 SFA composition students attended the conference where their original compositions were performed as part of the competition.

The students study under SFA Professor of Composition Stephen Lias.