SFA schedules faculty bassoon recital

SFA faculty member Dr. Susan Nelson, far right, will present a bassoon recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Cole Concert Hall. Joining her on the program will be, from left, fellow faculty members Geneva Fung (piano), Evgeni Raychev (cello) and Jennifer Dalmas (violin); Abilene senior Brandon Pierce (violin); and faculty member Eric Fisher (bass). Not pictured is violist Melissa Nabb, instructor for the SFA Music Preparatory Division.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present Susan Nelson in a faculty bassoon recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Cole Concert Hall.

Nelson and pianist Geneva Fung, staff accompanist, will perform a variety of pieces that Nelson enjoys and that she says "move" her in different ways.

The duo will play Paul Jeanjean's "Prèlude et Scherzo," which was written for the yearly contests of the Paris Conservatoire to test the performers' abilities while vying for the first prize.

They will also perform John Steinmetz' "Sonata," a piece which invokes extreme emotional states, explained Nelson. "It is reminiscent of both Olivier Messiaen's 'Quartet for the End of Time' as well as Japanese shakuhachi music."

Joining Nelson and Fung for the performance of "Divertissement" by Jean Françaix will be SFA music faculty members Jennifer Dalmas (violin), Evgeni Raychev (cello) and Eric Fisher (bass); violist Melissa Nabb, instructor for the SFA Music Preparatory Division: and violinist Brandon Pierce, Abilene senior.

"Françaix dedicated this piece to one of the world's most prominent bassoonists, William Waterhouse, who was the principal bassoonist with London orchestras and a chamber musician," said Nelson. "It highlights Françaix's compositional style of lightness and wit."

Nelson has been member of the School of Music's adjunct faculty since 2010. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Michigan, her master's from the University of Oklahoma and her bachelor's from the University of Kansas. All three degrees are in musical performance.

She has performed with the annual Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria, and with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, Helena Symphony, Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music and is part of the 2011-2012 Cole Performing Arts Series. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.