NACOGDOCHES, Texas-The Stephen F. Austin State University Department of English and Philosophy will host award-winning poets Gerry LaFemina and Amy Fleury as part of the department's spring reading series.

LaFemina is the author of several poetry collections including "The Parakeets of Brooklyn," and he directs and teaches at the Frostburg Writing Center in Frostburg, Md. Fleury is the author of a collection of poems titled "Beautiful Trouble," which won the Crab Orchard First Book Award and was named a top ten book of 2004 by the Kansas City Star.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Whether your prized and pampered azaleas are the talk of the town or you have the blackest thumb in the neighborhood, the upcoming Azalea Trail Symposium is the place to be March 21.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present Kenneth Saxon in a guest piano recital at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The highlight of the program will be Robert Schumann's "Fantasie in C, Op. 17," according to Dr. Andrew Parr, SFA professor of piano. "The large-scale, youthful work is full of secret musical messages to Schumann's future wife, Clara, whom the composer was forbidden to see," Parr explained.

Parsons Dance will present a program of contemporary dances at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium as part of the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts' University Series.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Parsons Dance, renowned as one of America's most successful contemporary dance companies, will bring its athleticism and artistry to W.M. Turner Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, as part of the Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Orchestra of the Pines will present "Broadway, Movies and Classics" in Cole Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and again at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1.

"We have received much encouragement from the community and faculty to offer a pops concert during our regular season," said Gene H. Moon, director of orchestral activities at SFA and the orchestra's music director. "And we are excited to be offering both an evening and afternoon concert to accommodate the anticipated crowds."

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present trombonist Jonathan Whitaker in a guest artist recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the Music Recital Hall of the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building.

Whitaker, assistant professor of low brass at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark., and pianist May Tsao-Lim, also of HSU, will perform the world premiere of Anthony Barfield's newest piece. The program also includes works by G.F. Handel, J.G. Ropartz and Claude Debussy.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present Hannah Holman in a guest cello recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in Cole Concert Hall. Admission is free.

Holman, who is the cellist of the Maia Quartet, the Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Iowa, will perform with clarinetist Christopher Ayer, SFA associate professor of music, and pianist Kae Hosoda-Ayer, lecturer of collaborative piano at Baylor University.

Girls in sixth through eighth grades may investigate careers ranging from nursing to crime solving at the Feb. 28 "Expanding Your Horizons in Mathematics and Science" conference at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The annual conference nurtures girls' interest in science and math courses and encourages them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The event is hosted by SFA and the local chapter of the American Association of University Women and attracts more than 300 participants each year.

Bob Wright

Bob Wright, a higher education marketing executive with more than 19 years of experience, has been named executive director of marketing and public affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - While composers from across the state are meeting at Stephen F. Austin State University Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21, for the 2009 Conference of the Texas Chapter of The National Association of Composers, USA, East Texans can attend any of the four concerts included on the conference program.

"This is an opportunity for our local audience to hear world premieres by the state's top composers," said Stephen Lias, SFA associate professor of composition and director of the conference.