Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Two students with Nacogdoches ties will be the featured soloists during the Stephen F. Austin State University Chamber Orchestra concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in Cole Concert Hall.

Rick Baty, son of Larry and Kathy Greer of Nacogdoches and Russ and Mary Baty of Sugar Land; and Kathryn Haney, daughter of Archie and Diana Haney of Nacogdoches; are both winners of the SFA School of Music's annual Concerto and Aria Competition. They will perform the pieces on which they auditioned, with the Chamber Orchestra serving as accompaniment.

Baty, a junior music education major at SFA, will perform Johann Hummel's "Trumpet Concerto."

Baty is the assistant principal trumpet of the SFA Wind Ensemble, student principal trumpet of the Orchestra of the Pines, a member of the SFA Pep Band, SFA Trumpet Ensemble and the locally acclaimed Backwoods Brass Quintet. Baty is also lead trumpet with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corp.

A graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Baty was a member of the 5A All-State Band, the Virtuosi of Houston Chamber Orchestra and the Houston Youth Symphony. He attended the American Federation for the Arts Summer Conservatory and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Trumpet Workshop.

Baty studies with Dr. Gary Wurtz, SFA assistant professor of music, and lives in Nacogdoches with his wife Renee.

Haney, a soprano majoring in vocal performance, will sing "Tornami a vagheggiar" from Georg Frideric Handel's "Alcina."

Haney is a four-year member of the SFA A Cappella Choir and Madrigal Singers. Her SFA operatic performances include First Spirit in W.A. Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Adele in "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss, Jr. In April, she will sing the title role in Jacques Offenbach's "La Perichole."

In November, Haney received first place in the senior women's division at the National Association of Teachers of Singing convention in Norman, Okla.

She has studied with Dr. Deborah Dalton, SFA associate professor of music, since she was a freshman at Nacogdoches High School. She is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir.

The Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Jeff Jacobsen, SFA assistant professor of music, will also perform W.A. Mozart's "Divertimento in D Major, KV 136," Sir Edward Elgar's "Serenade Lyrique," and Franz Joseph Haydn's 'Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor."

The concert concludes the chamber orchestra's annual spring tour. On Wednesday, March 1, the orchestra and soloists will perform at two high schools in Denton. The following day, they will give performances at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler and Marshall High School.

Tickets for the Nacogdoches 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.