Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University’s Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts will open the 2024-25 season with an exciting program of Latin American music featuring the husband-wife team Dr. Juan Carlos and Dr. Jeana Paul-Ureña, professor and chair, respectively, in SFA’s Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication, and friends from Brazil and Costa Rica along with School of Music faculty members.
“Shadows at Dawn – An Evening of Latin American Sounds” is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building.
The University Series’ Magical Season features music, comedy and giant spectacle in family friendly performances in Turner Auditorium. This year’s series spans a rich tapestry of genres and styles, ensuring an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages, according to Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts.
“This past summer, I had secured all but one act for the impending series when the Ureñas invited my wife and I to their house to a listening party for their newest album,” Wurtz said. “Listening to their new music that evening, with a room full of friends, it dawned on me that I had to invite them to be one of our acts this year. We are so fortunate to have such a talented duo right here in our midst, and we take that for granted. They are highly acclaimed artists in Central and South America whose music is beautiful and expertly performed, and I am thrilled to feature them on the series.”
Dr. Juan Carlos Ureña began writing, composing and performing music in Costa Rica during the 1980s, and he was an integral part of the Nueva Canción movement in Central America. He began working in 1994 in duo with Dr. Jeana Paul-Ureña, who hails from Texas, Brazil and Costa Rica. Together, the Ureñas create a unique fusion of intricate guitars, mandolin and piano; Caribbean, Brazilian and pop rhythms; poetic Spanish lyrics; and beautiful harmonies.
They will be joined in this University Series performance by Gabriel Gutiérrez, percussion, Mario Álvarez, bass guitar, María Pretiz, piano and voice, and Humberto Vargas, guitar and voice, all from Costa Rica; and invited guests from the SFA School of Music, including Dr. Christina Guenther, flute; Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello; Chris Tatem, SFA music graduate from Pearland; and Heath Perritt, SFA music graduate from Nacogdoches.
Following the show, patrons are encouraged to attend a brief reception in the second-floor lobby and meet the performers.
The series continues with the Latin group Del Castillo bringing a cross-cultural powerhouse sound to Turner Auditorium on Oct. 18 and sponsored in part by Cataract, Glaucoma & Retina Consultants of East Texas | Medical Arts Surgery Center | Benchmark Optical. Prepare for an evening of laughter as acclaimed comedian Greg Warren takes Turner stage Thursday, Jan. 30, delivering sharp wit and hilarious observations. Opening for Warren is comedian Tim Convy. This performance is sponsored in part by Etech. Enter a realm of fantasy and wonder with a performance that features gigantic mythical beast puppets with “Dragons & Mythical Beasts” on Friday, Feb. 28. This performance is sponsored in part by Lehmann Eye Center.
The Griffith Fine Arts Building is located at 2222 Alumni Drive on the SFA campus. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Fine Arts Box Office website, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Ticket prices range from $3 for SFA students to $35 for adults.