Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The A Cappella Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will present “Always Keep This Close” when the choral group performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The concert title speaks of connections made and friendships forged when working and singing together in a choir, according to Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities at SFA and the choir’s conductor.
In the lyrics: “No notes are as connected as the souls that sing them, no soul is happier than when surrounded by their friends.” The text is written by Colleen Carhuff and the composer is Zachary J. Moore, SFA graduate student in composition from Wisconsin and member of the 2021-22 A Cappella Choir.
A composer, arranger and educator, Moore graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in music education and taught at Waukesha West High School before coming to SFA. Highly sought after for commissioned music, Moore’s compositions have received performances at multiple state conventions of music education and choral conductors’ associations nationwide and in prestigious concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall in 2019.
The choir will also perform music by Francis Poulenc, Josef Rheinberger, Nadia Boulanger, Brandon Waddles, Johannes Brahms, James MacMillan and others.
The A Cappella Choir has accepted a prestigious invitation to sing for the 2022 Texas Music Educators Association conference in February.
“The TMEA conference is the largest music conference in the world and is held in San Antonio each year,” Murphy said.
Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.