Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Opera lovers from Nacogdoches, Lufkin and surrounding areas still have an opportunity to join Amore! and participate in the organization's Spring Opera Preview and Chocolate Party at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, in the home of two Nacogdoches members.

The party will feature performances by SFA vocal instructor Scott LaGraff, his wife Kimberly, and cast members of the Stephen F. Austin State University's production of "La Périchole." The cast will perform excerpts from the show while LaGraff gives historical background and tells the story.

"La Périchole," a comic opera by Jacques Offenbach, will be presented in English by the SFA School of Music and School of Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, through Saturday, April 8, in W.M. Turner Auditorium as part of the SFA College of Fine Arts' University Series.

"Our preview party gives the Amore! members a chance to meet some of the cast and become better acquainted with the opera and its music," said Scott LaGraff. "It also provides a pleasant social event for area opera lovers to meet one another."

"But our organization is not just for those who already love opera," LaGraff explained. "One of the reasons we created Amore! last fall was to address the fact that many people are intimidated by opera or think it's boring. Already we're hearing comments about how enjoyable our last program was--and that's from people who aren't opera fans!"

Membership dues and contributions to the organization go directly to the annual opera budget and to the SFA School of Music's vocal area to assist in attracting high quality singers and students.

Memberships are available at levels ranging from $25 to $5,000. Every member receives a subscription to the SFA Opera Newsletter. Other benefits, such as a compact disc of SFA's "Rising Stars," tickets to the SFA opera and a private performance in the member's home, are available with specific membership levels.

Anyone who would like to join Amore! may download an application form at www.music.sfasu.edu/ensembles/amore.asp. For more information, call Scott LaGraff at (936) 468-4206 or e-mail him at lagraffsp@sfasu.edu.