NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present a series of recitals Saturday, May 7, through Tuesday, May 17. The recitals, which provide an opportunity to showcase the talents and accomplishments of the students enrolled in the various programs, are free and open to the public.

The first recital will be presented by piano students of Dr. Ping-Ting Lan at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in Cole Concert Hall, located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.

On Sunday, May 8, there will be two separate recitals in Cole Concert Hall. Piano students of Monica Hambrick, Sooyun Kim, Emma Krivohlavek, and Michelle Schwartz; voice students of Brandon Nichols and Nicole Stewart; Fulton Miller's percussion student; Nicolle Sartain's flute student and Hambrick's horn student will present a joint recital at 2 p.m.

At 4 p.m., Mary Cooper's piano students will perform.

Harp students of Sarah Oliver will present their recital at 6 p.m. Monday, May 9, in the Music Recital Hall, located in Room 160 of the Music Building. At 7 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall, the SFA Children's Chorus, directed by Stewart and Nichols, will perform its end-of-the-semester program.

Dr. Mario Ajero's piano lab students will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, in the Music Recital Hall.

Suzuki violin students of Brenda Josephsen will play in one of two recitals in the Music Recital Hall: 6 p.m. on Friday, May 13, or 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14.

Two different recitals will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 15. Linda Parr's piano students will perform in Cole Concert Hall. And in the Music Recital Hall, piano students of Stephen Adams and Missy Leppert, Christy Cook's classical guitar students and Melissa Nabb's violin/viola students will play their recital pieces.

The Piney Woods Youth Orchestra will present its end-of-the-semester concert at 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, in Cole Concert Hall. Dr. Evgeni Raychev directs the chorus and is assisted by Richard Leppert.

The final recital of the season-featuring students of Dr. Jennifer Dalmas (violin), Raychev (cello) and Eric Fisher (bass)-is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the Music Recital Hall.

The Music Preparatory Division has been offering musicianship classes and private instruction for East Texas students for over 25 years. It is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

The division will continue to offer lessons and camps during the summer months. For a full listing of the options available, please visit www.music.sfasu.edu/prep or contact Pat Barnett, director, via e-mail at pbarnett@sfasu.edu or call her at (936) 468-1291.