Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The performance halls will be alive with the sound of music as the students enrolled in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music present their end-of-the-year recitals Sunday, May 6, through Thursday, May 17.

"In the span of 12 days, we will present 13 different recitals or concerts," said Pat Barnett, director of the Music Preparatory Division. "While family and friends of the performers make up the bulk of the audiences, the public is welcome to any of the events. The students have worked hard all year, and these recitals give them an opportunity to share the talents and skills they've developed."

On Sunday, May 6, piano students of Dr. Ping-Ting Lan will present their recital at 4 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall, Room 160 of the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

At 6 p.m., the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra will perform in Cole Concert Hall, also located in the Wright Music Building. The orchestra is directed by Dr. Evgeni Raychev and Dr. Jennifer Dalmas.

On Monday, May 7, piano students of India Aquino, Kelly Carstens, Hyera Kim and Emily Lawlace will present their recital at 6 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

Raychev's cello students and Alan Scott's classical guitar students will perform at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, in the Music Recital Hall.

On Saturday, May 12, four separate recitals will be presented. Each Suzuki violin student of Brenda Josephsen will perform in either the 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. recitals in the Music Recital Hall.

At 3 p.m., the Live Wire Choir, Lyric Choir and Junior Chorale, all under the direction of Jennifer Weems, will perform in the Music Recital Hall. Also at 3 p.m., Linda Parr's piano students will perform in Cole Concert Hall.

On Sunday, May 13, Mary Cooper's piano students will present their recital at 2 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall, and voice students of Dr. Deborah Dalton, Nita Hudson, Kimberly LaGraff and Dr. Scott LaGraff will perform at 4 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall. At 6 p.m., violin students of Dalmas and Megan McIntire will present their recital in the Music Recital Hall.

On Monday, May 14, Mollie Marcuson's harp students, Michelle Sellers' flute students, Weston Fisher's horn students and Dr. Brian Utley's saxophone student will present a joint recital at 6 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

The recital season will conclude on Thursday, May 17, with "May Madness" presented by Parr's piano students at 7 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall. Students are encouraged to play instruments other than the piano and invite family and friends to join in the performances.

The Music Preparatory Division has been offering musicianship classes and private instruction for East Texas students for 25 years. It is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.

Registration for a variety of summer offerings will begin within the next few weeks. More information is available on the division's Web site, www.music.sfasu.edu/prep, or by calling Pat Barnett, director, at (936) 468-1291.