Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Music ensembles at Stephen F. Austin State University have a long-standing history of impressive performances at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention held annually in San Antonio. The four-day event, slated for Feb. 8 through 11, is the largest music educators convention in the nation with more than 26,000 attendees.
This year will mark the 13th TMEA performance by SFA bands in the history of the band program, according to Dr. Tamey Anglley, director of bands at SFA. The SFA Wind Ensemble performs at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre in the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.
Following a competitive application process, SFA Wind Ensemble was among three university performance groups selected to perform at this year’s convention.
“We are thrilled to be representing SFA and showcasing our outstanding students and faculty at the 2023 TMEA Convention,” Anglley said. “Lila Cockrell Theatre seats around 2,300 audience members, and I am sure it will be filled with our devoted alumni, family and friends of SFA.”
“The SFA Wind Ensemble has a strong tradition of outstanding performances on our campus and throughout the state and region,” said Dr. Nathan Nabb, director of the School of Music. “This year’s performance at the TMEA Convention, Dr. Anglley’s first as director of bands at SFA, will no doubt be an incredible concert and another highlight for this fantastic group.”
The band will perform works by Viet Cuong, David W. Campo, Charles Ives, Erika Svanoe, John Mackey and Karl King.
Campo, SFA director of bands emeritus, composed “Two Poems of Robert Frost” specifically for this performance, and the work will receive its world premiere at this concert.
Dr. Christopher Ayer, professor of clarinet at SFA, will be the featured soloist on Mackey’s clarinet concert “Divine Mischief.”
The final piece of the concert, “Pride of the Illini,” features the SFA fight song within the trio section of the march, giving “a little nod to SFA!” Anglley said.
“I have seen SFA’s Wind Ensemble perform at this very prestigious event numerous times, dating back to the early 1990s,” said Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts. “This performance, with Dr. Anglley on the podium, is one that I am perhaps the most excited about. This will be her debut, at the state level, as our director of bands, and those in attendance will witness what great hands our band program is in."
Admission to the concert is free. For more information about the SFA School of Music and its programs, call (936) 468-4602 or visit sfasu.edu/music.