Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the SFA Wind Ensemble in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

"This concert is very eclectic, pulling together several different styles of music," said Fred J. Allen, SFA director of bands and the Wind Ensemble's conductor.

"A highlight of the concert will be the stirring 'Music for Prague' by Karel Husa," Allen said. "A native of Czechoslovakia, Husa was living and working in New York as his beloved Prague fell to the communists in 1968. Within the composition you hear the despair, the rage and the determination of the Czech people," Allen explained.

The piece will be conducted by David W. Campo, associate director of bands at SFA.

Clarinetist Christopher Ayer, assistant professor of music at SFA, will be the featured soloist on John Mackey's "Damn." Written for solo clarinet and four percussionists, the work will be conducted by Scott Harris, SFA assistant professor of music and director of percussion studies.

Soprano Debbie Berry, SFA vocal instructor, and Ron Petti, SFA director of accompanying, will join the Wind Ensemble in presenting "Suite Francaise" by Darius Milhaud. The duo recently performed the piece with the band at the recent convention of the College Band Directors National Association at Baylor University.

Other works on the program are "Frieschütz Quickstep March" by Claudio Grafulla, "Lux Aurumque" by Eric Whitacre and "Dance of the Jesters" by Peter Tchaikovsky.

Tickets for the concert are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.