SFA School of Music to present ‘Holiday Celebration Concert’

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University will present an evening of festive music featuring various student ensembles in a Holiday Celebration Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in W.M. Turner Auditorium, Griffith Fine Arts Building, on the SFA campus.

The fundraising concert ushers in the holiday season while benefiting students in the School of Music, according to Dr. J.D. Salas, professor in the School of Music and concert organizer.

“The Holiday Celebration Concert will be an exciting addition to the local events in Nacogdoches,” Salas said. “The concert is organized as a prism concert, named for the prism which reveals varied colors of light. The format presents the many facets of musical experience in as pure a form as possible, without applause, gaps between performances or visual distraction. Using the prism format with holiday music will create a truly special event for the audience.”

The concert will feature several holiday favorites. The SFA Symphony Orchestra will perform a rendition of “Carol of the Bells” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” featuring SFA Professor of Violin Dr. Jennifer Dalmas.  

The SFA Wind Ensemble will present the world premiere of “Geyser” composed by former SFA Director of Bands Dr. David Campo. The Swingin’ Axes will perform a movement from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” set in a jazz style by Billy Strayhorn and first performed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

The Commercial Music Ensemble will delight the audience with “Jingle Bell Rock” and a rendition of “Please Come Home For Christmas” originally performed by The Eagles. SFA’s A Cappella Choir will perform “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Silent Night.”

The concert also features performances by the SFA Horn Choir and Trombone Choir staged in various areas of the newly remodeled Turner Auditorium.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Purchase tickets online, visit the fine arts box office, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.