Joshua Dennis and Tiffanny Hamilton rehearse a scene from Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Traviata."

Stephen F. Austin State University graduate vocal students Joshua Dennis of McKinney and Tiffanny Hamilton of Longview rehearse a scene from Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Traviata," which the SFA School of Music and School of Theatre will present at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, through Saturday, April 21, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

2012 Teaching Excellence Award winners (top left to right): Dr. Louise Stoehr, Dr. Betty S. Johnson and Dr. Clint Richardson (bottom left to right): Dr. Heather Olson Beal, Lauren McAdams Selden and Dr. Erin Brown (far right): Kimberly Squyres

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Seven Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members will be honored for their teaching abilities at the annual Teaching Excellence Convocation at 3:30 p.m.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Symphonic Band and University Band of Stephen F. Austin State University will present a joint concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The University Band will open the concert with Randall Standridge's energetic "Steel," which features electrifying percussion and syncopation, said David W. Campo, SFA associate director of bands and the ensemble's conductor.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - East Texans can be among the first to hear the newest works by three acclaimed playwrights during the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre's 2012 Festival of New American Plays Tuesday, April 24, through Saturday, April 28.

"Every two years, we invite some of the best playwrights in the nation to participate in our biennial event," said Scott Shattuck, director of the SFA School of Theatre.

SFA Associate Professor of Costume Design Angela Bacarisse shows Houston junior Megan Thomas how to equally space the buttons on one of nearly 60 costumes to be used in the SFA production of Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata." The opera will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, through Saturday, April 21, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F.

Hosted by the SFA Gardens, the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series will feature horticulturist Steven Chamblee in a presentation entitled "Garden Harmony 101" at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the Agriculture Building, Room 110, at 1924 Wilson Drive on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - World-renowned art critic Dave Hickey will present a lecture presentation from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, in the Stephen F. Austin State University Wright Music Building. The lecture is free and open to the public.

The following day, Hickey will announce his choice of winners of "TEXAS NATIONAL 2012" during the exhibition's opening reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. As the exhibition/competition's juror, Hickey chose from the 1,600 entries received works by 84 artists from 23 states.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present a student-directed production of Christopher Durang's one-act play "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14. All performances will be in the Downstage Theatre located on the first floor of the Griffith Fine Arts Building.

She-e Wu, internationally acclaimed marimba artist will perform as soloist and with the SFA Percussion Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in Cole Concert Hall.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Internationally acclaimed marimba artist She-e Wu will be the featured soloist during the SFA Percussion Ensemble concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Stone Fort Wind Quintet, an SFA faculty ensemble, will present its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in Cole Concert Hall. Pictured, from left, are Christina Guenther, John W. Goodall, Christopher Ayer, Charles Gavin and Susan Nelson.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stone Fort Wind Quintet, a faculty ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present its spring concert, "Classics for Wind Quintet," at 7:30 p.m.