NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Audience members responded with enthusiastic praise following Tuesday night's opening of "Macbeth" presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre.

This play by William Shakespeare is often produced because of the theatrical elements that are present: drama, betrayal, love and murder. In SFA's production of "Macbeth," all of these components are highlighted with exciting fight sequences, powerful dance choreography and gripping fake bloodshed.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The SFA Percussion Ensemble and SFA Steel Band, both directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, will perform their annual "Percussion in the Pines" holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

The Percussion Ensemble will play several holiday favorites, including "Deck the Halls," "Carol of the Bells," "Sleigh Ride," "Oh Holy Night" and "Silent Night," according to Meyer, director of percussion studies for the SFA School of Music.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a concert of British and American band classics at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.1, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

"The Ties that Bind" is a program that includes the music of Malcolm Arnold, Clifton Williams, W. Francis McBeth and John Barnes Chance. The program will also feature "Thanksgiving Hymn," arranged for band by SFA Director of Bands Fred J. Allen and conducted by graduate student Dwight Watson of Lavon.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Wind Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the program "British Masters" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

"All the pieces are rooted in the English musical tradition," said Fred J. Allen, director of bands and of the ensemble.

Two featured works are "Crown Imperial" by William Walton and "Four Scottish Dances" by Malcolm Arnold.

"Crown Imperial" was composed for both band and orchestra for the coronation of King Edward VIII, Allen explained.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Students in an SFA 101 class recently orchestrated a mini-event, Business for Dummies, within Stephen F. Austin State University's Nelson Rusche College of Business.

This free event featured four 30-minute workshops to help educate students on various topics, including networking, social media, business dress and degree/major opportunities. Approximately 50 students attended.

Chelsea Heidbrink, adviser within the Nelson Rusche College of Business, has been working with her SFA 101 class to prepare for this event since August.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -The official Stephen F. Austin State University tartan ladies' scarf, which is 95 percent wool and 5 percent cashmere, will be available for purchase Nov. 18 in the Barnes & Noble campus bookstore in the Baker Pattillo Student Center and online at http://www.collegiatetartan.com.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University will host its second annual Purple Premium Cattle Sale beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center.

The sale is planned and executed by students enrolled in Dr. Erin Brown's Advanced Beef Science class. According to Brown, associate professor of animal science in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, students are instrumental in all aspects of the sale, from obtaining cattle consignments to sale marketing and setup.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Students in Dr. Karol Chandler-Ezell's cultural anthropology course at Stephen F. Austin State University recently received the Public Anthropology Award for Excellence in Writing on Public Issues with the Community Action Website, a site designed to help students explore ethical issues of anthropology.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Loblolly Railroad Model Train Display returns for a fifth year to the historic Nacogdoches Railroad Depot.

Sponsors for this year's event are Stephen F. Austin State University, SFA Center for Regional Heritage Research, City of Nacogdoches, Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver and Union Pacific.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Nathan Nabb, professor of saxophone at Stephen F. Austin State University, will perform a recital with guest pianist Chialing Hsieh when the artists present "Sonata" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Nabb selected two of his favorite pieces to be performed - the Sonata in A major (originally for violin) by César Franck and Sonata by William Albright.