Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will honor Deidre Douglas, public school music educator, with the Outstanding Music Alumna award on Friday, April 25, during Extravaganza 21. The annual gala banquet, held at the Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center, is sponsored by the SFA Friends of Music.

Douglas' accomplishments will be highlighted by Dr. Tim King, her former choral director and director of choral activities at SFA.

Douglas, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Cornish of Lufkin, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts from SFA in 1986 and 1988 respectively. Now in her 20th year of teaching in the Cypress Fairbanks School District in Houston, she is currently the head choral director at Cypress Falls High School.

While attending SFA, she studied voice with the late Regents Professor, David Jones, and performed in several operatic roles: Carmen in "Carmen," Santuzza in "Cavallaria Rusticana," Allsa in "Lucia di Lammermoor" and Prince Orlovsky in "Die Fledermaus."

Choirs under Douglas' direction have received numerous Sweepstakes ratings in UIL Concert and Sightreading and Best in Class and Most Outstanding Performance at music festivals. Last year, her chamber choir was awarded First Runner-up at the prestigious American Classic Madrigal Festival in San Antonio.

Her students have consistently earned membership in District, Region and All-State Choirs. She has several former students who are currently music and academic educators in Texas and others who have pursued professional singing careers.

Douglas is a frequent adjudicator, clinician and soloist throughout Texas and surrounding states. She has served on the UIL Prescribed Music List committee and as a choral textbook consultant for Hal Leonard's "Essential Elements of Choral Music" textbook. She is a co-author of the textbook series, "Experiencing Choral Music, published by Hal Leonard and McGraw-Hill (Glenco).

Ron Anderson, director of the SFA School of Music, said more than 200 people are expected for the this year's Extravaganza, "Rising Stars . . . And All That Jazz," which features performances by the SFA Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, A Cappella Choir, Swingin' Axes jazz band and Opera Workshop.

Also performing will be three student performers vying for the President's Award, which is given to the school's outstanding recitalist of the year. Dr. Baker Pattillo is scheduled to present the award.

Dr. Gary Wurtz, SFA associate professor of music, will serve as master of ceremonies for this year's event.

"Following the banquet, guests will dance the night away to great swing music of the '30s and '40s provided by Tom Houston's Dance Combo," said Anderson.

The Extravaganza 21 Awards Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and the deadline for reservations is Wednesday, April 23. For tickets or more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.