Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The A Cappella Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will present “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” an eclectic program of secular, sacred and popular music, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Cole Concert Hall, Wright Music Building, on the SFA campus.
Conducted by Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities at SFA, the choir will be joined by Eunjin Bang, collaborative pianist, and Dr. Nathan Nabb, saxophone and director of the School of Music, to perform on the concert, which also features the talents of graduate conducting students Joe Alvear of Brownsville, Katie Bulen of San Antonio, Desteni Granston of Houston and Emily LeBlanc of Montgomery.
“The messages inspired by the texts presented in this concert have long served as hope and inspiration for both secular and sacred audiences,” Murphy said. “‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning’ was written and recorded by longtime popular entertainer Dolly Parton, who wrote the song to figuratively describe clouds lifting as the result of her many sacrifices of the previous hard years paying off.”
Another piece on the program, Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird,” written for The Beatles, was composed to show solidarity for those who faced discrimination in the Civil Rights Movement.
The concert also features choral music composed by Edward Elgar, William Byrd, John Ratledge, Craig Hella Johnson, Johannes Brahms and more.
Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, visit the SFA Fine Arts Box Office website or call (936) 468-6407. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.