Recital to feature music of John Williams

Chris Combest, principal tubist for the Louisville Symphony, will present a solo recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, as part of SFA's Cole Performing Arts Series.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University's School of Music and the Cole Performing Arts Series will present Chris Combest in a solo recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, in Cole Concert Hall as the opening concert of SFA's seventh annual Octubafest.

Octubafest is national event designed to highlight the tuba and euphonium as a solo and small chamber music instrument, according to J.D. Salas, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium at SFA.

"Many universities and conservatories present several different recitals and concerts featuring the tuba and euphonium during this month," Salas said.

Combest, the newest principal tubist for the Louisville Symphony, has recently moved from a teaching position at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and he performs with the UTSA Faculty Brass Quintet. He has presented recitals and masterclasses as a guest artist and clinician at various universities throughout the United States. Combest's recital at SFA will feature music for tuba and piano by the popular film composer John Williams of "Star Wars," "Return of the Jedi" and "Superman" fame. Williams' "Tuba Concert" will be performed.

"This composition by John Williams has been added to tuba repertoire with great excitement," Salas said. "Premiered by Chester Schmitz of the Boston Pops Symphony, the piece includes several different nods to the film score compositions of John Williams."

"Jabba the Hut," also by Williams, was originally a small section of the movie score for "Star Wars" in which the tuba is used to portray the character of Jabba The Hut, Salas said. The composer expanded the section into a full work at the request of James Self, who has recorded the tuba music in several of Williams' movie scores.

Combest's recital is the first of four events associated with Octubafest. There will be two studio recitals and the final event - Tubaween - which will feature the SFA Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Halloween night, in Cole Concert Hall.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, call (936) 468-6407.