Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Four centuries of chamber music will be performed during "Music Through the Ages," the 2007 Chamber Music in the Pines Festival presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music.

"This year, each concert will feature music from a different musical period," explained Jennifer Dalmas, co-director of the festival. "By grouping the works in this manner, our patrons will be able to hear the unique musical qualities from each time period."

The "Baroque Concert" will be held at 7:30 pm. Saturday, July 7; the "Classical Concert" at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10; the "Romantic Concert" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 13; and the "20th Century Concert" at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 15. All concerts will be in the Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Chad Burrow, assistant professor of clarinet at Oklahoma City University; Meredith Maddox, violinist with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra; Amy Cheng, assistant professor of piano at Oklahoma City University; and Kae Hosoda-Ayer, lecturer of collaborative piano at Baylor University, will join SFA faculty members Christina Guenther, flute; John W. Goodall, oboe; Christopher Ayer, clarinet; Jennifer Dalmas, violin; Gene H. Moon, viola; Evgeni Raychev, cello; and Ron Petti, piano, in presenting the concerts.

The "Baroque Concert," featuring music from 1600 to 1750, will include sonatas by C.P.E. Bach and G.F. Handel and a "Concert Royaux" by Francois Couperin. Performers include members of the East Texas Baroque--Guenther, Dalmas and Raychev--with Goodall and Hosoda-Ayer.

Music from 1750 to 1820 will be performed during the "Classical Concert." Dalmas, Maddox, Moon and Raychev will perform string quartets by F.J. Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven, and Guenther and Petti will present J.P. Hummel's flute sonata.

During the "Romantic Concert," which showcases music from 1820 to 1910, Dalmas, Maddox, Moon and Raychev will present Felix Mendelssohn's "String Quartet in D Major." In addition, Cheng will join the string players on a piano quintet, and Burrow, Raychev and Cheng will play a trio.

The concluding "20th Century Concert" featuring music written from 1900 to the present, will include Igor Stravinsky's "L'Histoire du Soldat," with pianist Hosoda-Ayer; Bohuslav Martinu's flute sonata and E.L.B. Destenay's trio for oboe, clarinet and piano.

The Chamber Music in the Pines Festival is sponsored in part by Ed and Gwen Cole.

Season tickets are $30 for adults, $22.50 for seniors and $15 for students. Single event tickets are $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $5 for students.

For tickets or more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or 888-240-ARTS.