Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Violinist Fahad Awan, 2006 graduate of Nacogdoches High School and junior at Stephen F. Austin State University, will be one of the featured soloists during the Chamber Orchestra concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Awan, who will present Camille Saint-Saëns' "Introduction and Rondo Cappricioso," is one of five winners of the SFA School of Music's annual Aria/Concerto competition, all of whom will perform their winning selections March 6.

Other winners include Abilene senior Nathan Cheney, performing George Telemann's "Concerto in D major for Horn and Orchestra"; Fort Worth senior Jason Paschall playing "Concertino for Oboe and Orchestra"; mezzo-soprano Jacquelyn Silva, Friendswood senior, singing "Amour Viens Aider" from Saint-Saëns' "Samson and Dalila"; and bass-baritone Christian Teague, Richland Hills sophomore, singing "Il Lacertato Spirito" from Giuseppe Verdi's "Simone Boccanegra."

The Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Gene H. Moon, will open the concert with "Academic Festival Overture" by Johannes Brahms and close with "Bercueuse and Finale" from Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird Suite."

Awan began studying violin through the SFA Music Preparatory Division when he was 3 years old and began playing with the Orchestra of the Pines when he was 12, under the instruction of Dr. Isidor Saslav.

He now studies with Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, SFA assistant professor of music, and serves as the assistant concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Pines. Awan is the current recipient of the Paul Buskirk Alumni Scholarship and is pursuing a degree in general business. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Shakoor Awan of Nacogdoches.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts, School of Music and Orchestra Series. It is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and the Wedgeworth-Wright Endowment for the Arts. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.

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